II-TRADE AND SHIPPING, INDUSTRIES, FISHERIES, AGRICULTURE AND LAND.
(a.)-SHIPPING AND TRADE.
The total of the Shipping entering and clearing at Ports in the Colony during the year 1910 amounted to 547,164 vessels of 36,534,361 tons, which, compared with figures for 1909, shows an increase in numbers of 19,884 vessels, with an increase of 1,703,516 tons. These totals are the largest yet reached exceeding all previous records by 15,052 vessels and 506,051 tons.
Of the above, 40,714 vessels of 23,160,256 tons were engaged in foreign trade, as against 43,794 of 22,415,125 tons in 1909, and were distributed as follows:-
1910 1909 1910 1909 Numbers. Numbers. Tonnage. Tonnage. British Ocean-going ships represented, 10.5% 9.3% 35.0% 34.5% Foreign Ocean-going ships represented, 10.6 9.8 35.0 35.1 British River Steamers represented, 16.0 13.2 17.3 16.5 Foreign River Steamers represented, 3.3 3.2 3.0 3.3 Steamships (not exceeding 60 tons) represented, 7.7 7.2 0.6 0.6 Trading Junks represented, 51.9 57.3 9.1 10.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0The movements of Fishing Junks are not included in the above figures.
Of ships of European construction, 4,276 Ocean Steamers, 8 Sailing Ships, 3,910 River Steamers, and 1,569 Steamships not exceeding 60 tons entered during the year, giving a daily average entry of 26.7 ships, as compared with 25.6 in 1909 and 26.8 in 1908.
The average tonnage of individual Ocean Vessels entering the port has once more increased—from 2,390.4 tons to 2,457.3 tons. That of British Ships has increased (2,594.5 tons as against 2,494 tons) while that of Foreign Ships has increased from 2,205.3 tons to 2,324.1 tons.
During the past 20 years, the average tonnage of Ocean Vessels has increased from 1,179 tons to 2,457.3 tons.