That of British River Steamers has decreased from 5112 tons to 503.3 tons, and that of Foreign River Steamers has increased from 364 tons to 393.2 tons.
A comparison between the years 1916 and 1917 is given in the following table:-
1916 1917 Increase Decrease Class of Vessels No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage British Ocean-going 2,288 1,039,197 1,619 868,743 669 170,454 Foreign Ocean-going 3,004 5,768,058 4,140 7,121,490 1,136 1,353,432 British River Steamers 717 262,141 352 127,514 365 134,627 Foreign River Steamers 343 196,501 352 262,141 9 65,640 Steamships under 60 tons (Foreign Trade) 6,450 212,350 6,531 198,060 81 14,290 Junks, Foreign Trade 25,047 3,201,621 26,067 3,217,278 1,020 15,657 Total, Foreign Trade 48,320 22,308,311 48,026 20,547,119 294 1,761,192 Steam Launches plying in Waters of Colony 558,988 12,632,776 548,536 12,423,736 10,452 209,040 Junks, Local Trade *35,456 *1,440,370 †24,528 †856,170 10,928 584,200 Grand Total 642,761 36,381,457 621,090 33,827,325 1,444 277,798 23,111 1,840,020 Net Decrease 21,667 1,562,222* Including 10,082 Conservancy and Dust Boats of 503,932 tons.
** Including 11,988 of 645,548 tons.
This table shows a decrease in British Ocean-going Shipping of 669 ships, or 23.8 per cent. and a decrease of 170,454 tons, or 13.8 per cent. This is due to a larger number of coasting steamers and regular lines to India and other countries being chartered by the Government, and employed in other waters.
British River Steamers have decreased by 365 ships and 134,627 tons, or 52 per cent in numbers and 3'2 in tonnage. This is due to the Shun Lee and Wa Sun trading between Ports outside the Colony for the most part of the year.
Foreign Ocean-going Vessels have increased by 1,136 ships of 1,353,432 tons or 83 per cent. in numbers and 3'6 per cent. in tonnage. This is explained by a small increase in Chinese, French, Portuguese and United States ships of smaller tonnage and a large increase in Dutch ships of a larger tonnage.
Foreign River Steamers show a decrease of 9 ships of 65,640 tons or 4.13 per cent. in numbers and 2.33 per cent. in tonnage,