386
SHIPPING NOTES.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The 8.8. Zafiro on her last trip to Manila collided with a junk while entering the harbour, and bent three of her plates. She goes into
dock here for repairs.
The British steamer Siam, 1,577 tons, owned by Messrs. McVeagh & Co., of London, was recently ashore at Yongampo, Korea. Fruitless efforts were made by two small Japanese steamers to get her off, but a few days later she was successfully re-floated by a tug-boat sent to her assistance by the South Manchurian Railway
Co.
The P. and O. steamer Nubia whilst proceed- ing to her anchorage at Shanghai last week rau aground on the Outer Bar. As the steamer was approaching the Bar a haze suddenly fell, and lasted for about ten minutes. When it cleared away a large junk was found to be immediately ahead of the Nubia, and in order to avoid a collision the helm was put hard over to starboard. The altered course had the effect of running her too close in, and she took the ground. She came off all right next day with the assistance of two tugs, and left Shanghai on Saturday for Hongkong.
The reports in the latest Japan papers regard- ing the stranding of the British steamer Indrani on the 14th ult. in the Inland Sea, at a point. seven miles off Tamashima, Bitchu Province, state that the steamer is badly damaged on the port side. The damage was found to be greater than was at first anticipated, for when the cargo was removed from the No. 1 hold, an extensive rent in her bottom was discovered. Her cargo consisted of about 3.000 tons of sundries and iron. One report says that the damage is estimated at over 200,000 yen. Twenty thousand is probably much nearer the mark,
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The Russian steamer Dnieper, formerly the B. and S. steamer Tungchow, which was sold during the late war, has been lying in Nagasaki harbour for the past year pending the settle- ment of a civil action. The Nagasaki Court in March gave its decision ordering the vessel he sold by auction. The sale took place a week ago and the ship was acquired by the China Commercial Steam Navigation Company of Shanghai for 30,000 yen. 10.000 you will be expended on her at Nagasaki for repairs when she will proceed to Shanghai and be put on the
Northern run.
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The Miyasaki Maru, the latest of the six new vessels built for the Nippon Yusen Kaisha's European service, is now in the harbour, on her maiden voyage to England. She is a sister ship of the Kamo. Mishima and Atsuta. & he has twin screws and her dimensions are:-about 465 feet in length. 56 feet beam and depth about 36 feet. Her propelling machinery is triple expansion engines of about 7,400 horse power and she is capable of making about 16 knots speed. Like her sister-ships, she has been furnished regardless of expense. Her cargo arrangements also are of the best for rapid handling of freight, and for heavy weights she has monster cranes capable of lifting forty tons. She is commanded by Captain Bainbridge. & well-known skipper who has been long in the Company's service.
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A Blue-book issued by the Board of Trade gives some interesting statistics of the world's merchant shipping during a period of very nearly 50 years. The total tonnage of sailing and steam vessels in the foreign trade entered and cleared at British ports during 1907 was 133,271,720. Of this huge aggregate, British vessels accounted for 81,308,442 tons, or 61 per cent. of the whole. The gross addition of tonnage for the United Kingdom in 1907 was 773,137 tons, which compares with 471,332 tons credited to the United States and 269.819 tons to Germany. The main interest in the return, however, lies in the comparisons furnished. covering, as they do, a lengthy period and show- ing the positions of the merchant shipping of our nearest rivals. The statistics, which deal with the tonnage of sailing and steam vessels in one group and steam vessels only in another, are as follows :-
!
1880
1900
1907
62,710,886
81,308,442
2.981.697
1,006.388
559.552
1.027,041
2 314.255
3,173,835
6,027,208
13,355,013
1,456,764
4.051,768
7.661,571
8.529.498
10,774,369
17,387.076
35,812,857
51,963,278
01]
70-4
63.7
61.0
Sailing and Storm Vessels.
13,914,923 | 41.318.984 1860
American
(terman
British
Norwegian
*100.)
1.99
Total foreign Proportion
per
Iritish to total tonnage
Steam Vessels only.
8.99
1860
1880
4,186,620
30.976,037
8.809
389,318
18,115
780.853
6,237,9,5 139.07
1.438.467
201,879
535,941
5,471,614 1900
4,839,313
29,996,788 60,302,659
1937
80,244,853
1,011,285
13,028.664
7,202,000
48,226,017
cent.
of
84-3
83.2
62.5
Total foreign... American
Norwegian German British
Proportion
per
British to total
tonnage
The British figures for 1900 do not include the tounage employed in the transport of troops, &c., to South Africa, the total being 1,571.969 tous. With regard to the 1907 figures it may he pointed out that the navigation returns of the United Kingdom were not compiled on quite the same basis as those for previous years. The figures relating to vessels entering and clearing in ballast in the foreign trade have been greatly increased by the inclusion from January 1 of that year of vessels calling at Southampton and Plymouth to land or embark passengers. even where a liberal allowance is made for such additions, the strength of the British position in the matter of merchandise marine is not only manifest, but obvious.
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But
[Hay 10, 1969.
THE SHIPPING BOYCOTT.
SERIOUS SITUATION AT HAIPHONG,
The French, British and German steamer lines that call at Haiphong have suddenly raised freight rates to China by 30 per cent. Their Chinese customers at the Tonkin port are dissatisfied, and have boycotted the Confer- ence which sprang the rise upon them. To obtain the facts, & representative of the Avenir du Tonkin interviewed a leading Chinese ex- porter, who explained. that the price of rice was too low to admit of him and his fellow-traders paying the increased freight rates. The aim of the boycott is to compel the Conference to The charge the old rates again, at the outset. Chinese exporters are determined upon cheapen- ing freight rates, and have formed themselves into a syndicate which will charter steamers. The latter will carry all the import and export trade passing through Chinese hands at Haiphong.
STUBBORN RESISTANCE.
The syndicate for the present does not intend to make profit out of freights, and will work as economically as possible. Fair rates will be charged so as to meet current outlay. It is hoped in time to lower freight rates below the figure the increase in which brought on all the trouble. The Conference holds out shortly. The boy- cutters meet with great difficulties in charte- ing steamers to Hongkong and Shanghai. The Conference has the advantage them in that, though freight rates in Tonkin aro low, they are high in North China. Many of its steamers have forsaken Haiphong, in consequence, for Chinese ports. The result- ing crisis at Haiphong presents peculiar features. Almost all the Tonkin rice export goes to Hongkong. Should the Haiphong Chinese exporters stop buying rice, the trade will fall into European hands.
HONGKONG TRADE.
over
Should the boycott last long, it may have serious results, says, the Accnir. A 30 per cent. rise in freights means a check on the exportation of many articles, especially grain. Can the rice export trade bear the increase in the long run? Can the Conference stand working along on the old rates at a loss for the benefit of Chinese only Success on the part of the boycotters means an increaso in the number of vessels flying the Chinese flag at Haiphong. The losers will be the French, British and German steamers which have hitherto shared the Hongkong trade.
TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN.
According to the returns compiled by Lloyd's Register of Shipping it appears that, excluding warships, there were 399 vessels of 912,272 tons gross under construction in the United King- dom at the close of the quarter ended March 31, or about 148,000 tons more than was in hand at the end of the December quarter, and about 65,000 tons more than twelve months ago. There are 67 war vessels under construction in the United Kingdom, with a tonnage of 247,765.tween China and Japan this year has been very Of these 11 are being built in the Royal dock- yards and 43 in private yards for British service, and 13 in private yards for foreign
service or destinations not stated. At
The Osaka Mainichi reports that trade be-
active. Last year the trade was badly affected on account of the Canton boycott of Japanese During the three months ending goods. March 31st this year the exports from Osaka Devonport one battleship and one armoured alone amounted in value to Y.8,014,000, and the cruiser are under construction, at Portsmonth imports to Y.939,000. The following table three battleships are being built, and at Pen-shows the exports and imports during the first broke one armoured cruiser and one third-class three months of the years 1907, 1908, and cruiser are being built, while at Chatham four 1909: - submarines are under construction.
DR. STEIN'S EXPEDITION IN CENTRAL ASIA.
It is gratifying to know, says the Times, that the Indian Government have lost no time in recognizing the help which Dr. Stein received during his recent expedition from various Chinese officials. His Majesty's Secretary of State for India has been asked to convey the cordial acknowledgments of the Government of India to the officials concerned, through the British Minister at Peking and the Chinese Government. As regards Dr. Stein's Chinese secretary, Chiang-ssu-yieh, the Government of India have decided to present him with a gold watch bearing the following inscription:
Presented by the Government of India to Chiang-ssu-yiel for valuable service to Dr. M. A. Stein during his tour of exploration in Chinese Turkestan and Western China, 1906.
1908,"
1907. 1908. 1909. Unit of Unit of Unit of Y.1,000. Y.1,000. Y.1,000. Exports
8,014 6,780 8,164 Imports
939 2,119 2,151 Of the principal exports, there was a big increase in cotton cloth of various kinds, grey shirtings, sheetings, silk and cotton satin, etc., while there was a diminution in umbrellas, copper, porcelain and utensils. Of the imports, flax, raw lacquer, and pig-hair, showed an
increase.
DECLINE IN OPIUM REVENUE.
An Indian dispatch of the 17th inst states:- The inevitable reaction in connection with has now commenced. The opium revenu returns of the first sale of Bengal opium this month and of Malwa opium pass duty last month show a falling off as compared with the estimate of over sixteen lakhs of rupees, and as in last year's business the falling off is pretty
certain to increase,