193
7. The 506 British Vessels carried, as crews, 30,983 British, 2,818 other Europeans, and 108,032 Asiatics; while the 383 Foreign vessels carried 1,219 British, 42,553 other Europeans, and 78,226 Asiatics.
Hence, in British Vessels:-
And in Foreign Vessels:-
1.0% of the crews were British.
Other Europeans. Asiatics.
34.9%
73
64%
Other Europeans. Asiatics.
77
21.8% of the crews were British.
1.9% 76.3%
17
11
This shows a growing tendency, when compared with previous years, for vessels to employ their own nationals to the exclusion of Asiatics and other Europeans.
2.-TRADE.
8. My opening remarks under this heading in my report for 1904 are as applicable now as then. The inaccuracy of these cargo returns is strikingly exemplified in the enormous increase shown in the import of sugar, which amounts to 106,091 tons, or an increase of 51.5%. From enquiries made, it appears that no such abnormal increase has taken place, and the explanation of the discrepancy is that the sugar returns, since the passing of the Sugar Convention Ordinance and the regulations made thereunder in June, 1905, (a period of only six months), have, perforce, been accurate, so that, apparently, double this amount of sugar has, in previous years, if reported at all, been reported as "General."
9. Under the heading Imports there appears a decrease of 280,888 tous, or 6.7 %. Though the general tendency is towards decrease in most of the items, there are substantial increases reported in Cotton, Hemp, and General Cargo, 6f 70.2%, 38.2%, and 1.9%, respec- tively, but it is difficult to say if these are genuine increases or no.
Prominent among the decreases are :—
Coal, 68,467 tons, or 5.9%. This is probably due to the cessation of maritime warlike operations.
Flour, 61,413 tons, or 52.9%. This appears to be due solely to the "boycott" of United States' goods.
Bulk Kerosene, 13,554 tons, or 23.8%. It seems that this is merely due to the fact that large cargoes which in previous years would have been landed here, have been carried on to other ports in the same bottoms, and hence come under the heading "Transit".
Case Kerosene, 26,186 tons, or 26%. This reduction, again, may be ascribed to the "boycott."
Liquid Fuel, 8,877 tons, or 91%. There would appear to be little demand here for this form of bunkering, hence this decrease.
Rice, 257,168 tons, or 31.2%. This, though a decrease on the figures for 1904, appears to represent merely a return to normal conditions after the enormous rice trade to the North during the earlier stages of the war.
10. An increase is reported of 263,492 tons in Transit Cargo.
11. The reports show a decrease of 262,160 tons in Export Cargo.