A comparison between the years 1915 and 1916 is given in the following table:-
1915 1916 Increase Decrease Class of Vessels No. Reg. Tonnage No. Reg. Tonnage Reg. No. Reg. Tonnage No. Tonnage British Ocean-going 3,988 7,358,586 3,673 7,023,222 267 489,834 Foreign Ocean-going 3,797 6,859,349 3,721 6,868,743 124 163,873 British River Steamers 6,676 4,022,853 7,047 4,127,051 371 104,198 Foreign River Steamers 1,892 928,147 2,288 1,039,197 396 111,050 Steamships under 60 tons (Foreign Trade) 6,822 228,510 6,450 212,350 372 16,160 Junks, Foreign Trade 27,097 2,953,705 25,047 3,201,621 247,916 2,050 Total, Foreign Trade 60,148 22,515,023 48,350 22,308,311 891 463,164 2,689 609,867 Steam Launches plying in Waters of Colony 46,938 10,022,806 558,988 12,632,776 112,050 2,609,970 Junks, Local Trade *34,516* 1,347,090 †35,456† 1,440,370 940 93,280 Grand Total 531,602 33,884,919 642,790 36,381,457 113,881 3,166,414 2,689 609,867 Net 111,192 2,496,538+ Including 10,082 Conservancy and Dust Boats of 503,932 tons.
† Including 10,066 of 505,660 tons.
This table shows a decrease in British Ocean-going Shipping of 267 ships, or 7.4 per cent, and a decrease of 489,834 tons, or 7.1 per cent.
This is due to several of the Coasting Steamers having been chartered by the Government, and the withdrawal of the P. & O. Intermediate Steamers.
British River Steamers have increased by 371 ships and 104,198 tons, or 5.2 per cent in numbers and 2.5 per cent in tonnage, which is due to the fact that two steamers were added to the West River Trade.
Foreign Ocean-going Vessels have increased by 124 ships or 3.3 per cent, but have decreased by 163,873 tons or 2.4 per cent. This is explained by the increase in Japanese and Chinese ships of smaller tonnage.
Foreign River Steamers show an increase of 396 ships and 111,050 tons, or 17.3 per cent in numbers and 11.7 per cent in tonnage (previously stated as 173 per cent and 17 per cent). This is due to several steamers which were previously on the Canton-West River trade having been placed on the Hongkong-West River trade carrying rice from July to December.