AnnualReport-1914

D 5

COMPARATIVE SHIPPING RETURN FOR 1ST 7 MONTHS 1913-1914.

1913 1914 Increase Decrease No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage British Ocean-going 2,424 4,832,063 2,630 5,240,172 206 408,109 Foreign Ocean-going 2,693 5,227,146 2,812 5,851,604 119 624,158 Total 5,117 10,039,209 5,442 11,091,776 325 1,032,567 Junks Foreign Trade 19,096 2,089,949 17,365 2,061,827 1,731 28,122

COMPARATIVE SHIPPING RETURN FOR LAST 5 MONTHS 1913-1914.

1913 1914 Increase Decrease No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage British Ocean-going 1,782 3,606,632 1,630 3,068,842 152 537,790 Foreign Ocean-going 1,986 4,045,489 1,385 2,738,532 601 1,306,957 Total 3,768 7,652,121 3,015 5,807,374 753 1,841,747 Junks Foreign Trade 6,557 792,569 10,109 1,147,918 3,552 355,349

First Seven Months.-Here is seen a continuation, more especially in British vessels, of the steady increase which has been noted during past years, amounting, in the case of British ships, to 206 ships of 408,109 tons, or 8.5 per cent. in numbers and 8.4 per cent. in tonnage, compared with 6.4 per cent. and 8.6 per cent. respectively in 1913.

Foreign Ocean-going vessels increased by 119 ships of 624,458 tons, or 4.4 per cent. in numbers and 11.9 per cent. in tonnage, compared with 7.1 per cent. and 7.9 per cent. respectively in 1913.

The average tonnage of the British ships entering decreased from 1,995.2 to 1,992.4, while that of Foreigners increased from 1,948.9 to 2,080.9.

I should like to mention the large decrease shown in the Junk trade, which amounts to 1,731 vessels (8.5 per cent.) of 28,122 tons (1.3 per cent.). I am satisfied, for reasons which will appear later, that this decrease is not borne out by facts, but is really due to the increasing habit on the part of the Junk Masters of failing to report themselves.