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 1914 amounted to 517,439 vessels of 36,756,951 tons, which, compared with the figures for 1913, shows an increase of 27,211 vessels, with a decrease of 986,031 net register tons.
Of the above, 51,214 vessels of 25,279,624 tons were engaged in Foreign Trade, as compared with 47,520 vessels of 25,821,652 tons in 1913, and were distributed as follows:
1913. Numbers. 1914. Numbers. 1913. Tonnage. 1914. Tonnage. British Ocean-going ships, 8.8% 8.3% 32.7% 33.0% Foreign Ocean-going ships, 9.9 8.2 36.0 33.9 British River Steamers, 14.0 13.0 15.8 15.9 Foreign River Steamers, 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.6 Steam-launches (under 60 tons), 9.5 13.4 0.7 1.0 Trading Junks, 53.0 53.6 11.2 12.6 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0N.B. The movements of Fishing Junks are not included in the above figures.
Of vessels of European construction, 4,222 Ocean Steamers, 4 Sailing Ships, 4,213 River Steamers, and 3,403 Steam-launches entered during the year, giving a daily average entry of 324 ships, as compared with 299 in 1913, and 28.7 in 1912.
The average tonnage of individual Ocean Vessels entering the port has increased from 2,577.5 tons to 2,612.1 tons. That of British Ships has decreased from 2,742 tons to 2,636.3 tons, while that of Foreign Ships has increased from 2,453.7 to 2,590.2 tons.
During the past 20 years, the average tonnage of Ocean-going Vessels has increased from 1,327.7 tons to 2,603 tons.
The average tonnage of River Steamers entering during the year has decreased from 598.6 tons to 582.1 tons. That of British River Steamers has decreased from 616.2 tons to 600.4 tons, and that of Foreign River Steamers has decreased from 533.2 tons to 513.5 tons.