106
C. SHIPPING.
In
Before reviewing the extent of Japanese competition in the world's carrying trade, it will be as well to consider the size and capacity of the Japanese mercantile marine at the end of 1915, the last year for which statistics are available. December 1915 Japan possessed 3,487 steamers of a gross tonnage of 1,621,205. Excluding vessels of less than 1,000 tons, we arrive at a total of 416 ships and a gross tonnage of 1,331,308. These may be classified according to tonnage, as follows:
Tons.
From 1,000-3000
3,000-5,000
5.000-7,000
7,000-10,000
Over 10,000-
Grand total
Steamers
Gross Tonnage.
244 106
484,622
383,013
44
257,625
16
133,444
6
72,604
416
1,331,308
107
owing to the war, was an exceptional period, it has been deemed advisable to quote the figures for the last
pre-war year in addition.
Number of companies
Authorised capital
Paid-up capital
Reserve fund
Vessels, uuraber
ד+
gross tonnage
Profit and loss
Account
Receipts
Expenditure
Not earnings
Amount brought forward
To reserve
bonuses
Distribution
1
Dividends
1913.
1915,
23
24
7,005,000/. 6,248,0001,
4,520,000.
7,823,000/ 6,580,0007. 4,174,000/
582 785,190
Earnings Miscellaneous
5,963,0007.
324,000Z
608 895,615 7,584,000.
588,0007.
Subsidies and bounties Expenses Miscellancon8
1,152,000/
-
5,718,0001, 150,000/. 1,570,000/
141,0007.
840,000/ 6,489,0007,
379,000/ 2,145,000/
866,0007
42,0007.
178,000/ 1,187,000/
89,0007.
Amount Average rate
588,0007.
10.7 per cont.
862,0007.
33.00 per cent.
Of a total of 2,132 registered steamers at the end of 1915 with a gross tonnage of 1,604,900, the following classification according to age is given :—
Age.
Under 5 years
5-10 years
10-15
15-20
20-25
25-30
"
Over 30
Unknown
Total
Number.
Grous Tonnage.
5-19
321,362
365
231,676
368
[51,412
296
256,522
198
180,396
164
222,575
131
162,654
61
75,303
2,132
1,604,900
It will be remarked that a considerable number are very old ships, but this undue proportion of old vessels is being rapidly rectified by the enormous shipbuilding programme of the last few years.
The following table shows the number and tonnage of steamers classified according to speed :-
Speed,
Under 8 knots
8-9 knots
9-10
10-11
[1-12
12-13
13-14
14-15
15-16
16-17
17-18
18-19
19-21
14
Over 21 Unknown
Grand total
Number.
Gross Tonnage.
491
30,404
468
73.069
409
182,907
350
319,571
176
230,645
83
202,585
25
25
130,459
26
122,112
137,235
3
16,863
S
6,443
3
39,805
2
6,176
50
29,778
2,132
1,604,900
NOTE.-The figures gives in the above table represent those of the steamship companies with an antho- rised capital of 30,0007, and upwards, and do not include those of stea uship companies engaging in shipping trade as a secondary business.
N.B.To simplify conversion, the yen is taken at 24,
A most noteworthy feature of the above table is the total of the shipping subsidies received by the various lines. The year 1913 was the first year that the nett earnings of the Japanese shipping companies were greater than the amount of subsidy received, so that it may be said that prior to the war the Japanese shipping companies could not have been run at a profit except by the help of the subsidy. The enormous earnings during the war, however, have enabled a reduction in the amount of subsidies given to be made.
The following are a few of the vital statistics showing the business position of each of the four leading Japanese shipping companies at the end of 1915:-
Particulars.
Authorised capital
Paid-up expital
Reserve fund
Nippon Yasen Kaisha
Osaka Shosen Kaishe.
Toyo Kisen Kaisba
Nisshin Kizen
Kaisha,
2,200,000/ 2,200,000/
2,840,000/
Number of vessela
93
Gross tonnage
428,015
2,475,000/ 1,856,0007, 915,000,
141 212,337
1,300,000/.
975,000/
810,000/
810.0007.
112,000/
171,000/
10
23
Earnings
3,579,000/
2,044,000/
84,922 795,000/
31,877
275,0007.
Miscellaneous receipts
307,000/
146,000/
Shipping subsidies and bounties
323,000/
170,0007,
266,000/
32,395/
58,7752.
Expenses -
3,136,000/
1,286,000/
Hs 1,000/
221,677!.
Miscellaneous expenses
Net earnings
Brought forward from 1914
359/. 773,0007. 82,450/.
293,000Z.:
7,2007,
780,0002.
180,000/.
132,118,
86,0007. loss of 13,7917.
9,560/
438,000/
698,0007.
42.0007.
41,5447.
47,500/
20,000/
4,846/
Amount of dividend
275,0007.
204,0007,
115,3752,
76,9607.
Rate of dividend
Carried forward to 1916
12 per cent.
94,600/
11 per cent. 44,0007.
11-8 per cent.
8,3007.
9 per cent. 18,3377.
76,588
To reserve
Bonuses
The majority of the vessels are slow cargo-carrying steamers engaged in the coastal trade both of China and of Japan. The faster vessels are, in the main, the passenger liners employed on the European and Pacific services.
Steamship Companies. The following table includes a few of the main facts in connection with the Japanese steamship companies. loasmuch as the year 1915,
The Nippon Yusen Kaisha is the largest shipping company in Japan, and operates services of fast mail steamers to Europe, North America, Australia, and China. The Osaka Shosen Kaisha is a large line of cargo steamers plying to North America, North China, and China ports generally. The Toyo Kisen Kaisha operates a fast trans-Pacific service with splendidly equipped steamers to San Francisco. The Nisshin Kisen Kaisha is almost entirely confined to the China Coast and Yangtse river trade.
The subsidies granted are for mail services, and also as a general bounty, in return for which the Japanese Government secures control of freight rates, and can thus stimulate the foreign trade of its subjects in given directions. The following is a list of the steamship services laid down by the Department of Communications,
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