417
+
They can also be manufactured at the Government establishment, but the supply from this source would be limited. There is, it would seem, on the evidence which we have received, a tendency on the part of the War Office authorities at present to send a portion of the Government ordera to the trade, in order to keep up a supply of work for the Elswick firm, and so have it to fall back upon as a second manufactory, in case of severe pressure upon the Woolwich factory. It is also to be observed that as it has been impossible, in the absence of an approved pattern, to arm any of the sea batteries of the fortresses at home or abroad with guns of the new type, and as the armament of the home defences is very far from complete, Woolwich Arsenal will be unable to do the whole work if guns are to be supplied in a reasonable time, and the assistance of Elswick will have to be called in,
Admiral Herbert is of opinion that the guns provided for the naval stations abroad should be capable of piercing such armour as is carried by the "Nelson" or "Northampton;" and anticipates that hostile ships of this class might be expected to visit the Colonies. They are protected with 12-inch armour, which is capable of resisting the service 35-ton gun at 2,000 yards. The new 25-ton gun is stated to be more than sufficient to pierce armour of this thickness at this range, and may perhaps be taken as the heaviest nature of gun which will ordinarily be required; but the recent introduction of steel in armour-plating points to the necessity for providing guns of great power. With regard to the larger Colonies, who are providing for the defence of their own ports, we recommended in 1880 to your Majesty's Government, through the Secretary of State for tho Colonies, that an intimation of the impending change in the construction of ordnance should be given, in order that they might take ineasures to secure supplies of guns of the newest type, and avoid the expenditure of money upon guns which have been surpassed in power; and effect was given to this suggestion by means of a Circular, which was addressed to all Colonies possessed of Parliamentary government in December, 1880. The Australian Colonies had anticipated this advice, and several of them have already given orders for heavy guns of the new type, some of which have been-made at Elswick, and dispatched to their destinations.
With regard generally to guns for the naval stations and Colonial ports, there appear to be three alternatives, bearing in mind that there are no guns in store, and that all that are required
will have to be made:
(1.) To adopt the existing service guns.
(2.) To adopt guns of the new type,
(3.) To postpone the question till all details of the new type are definitely decided. The second alternative is the one which we recommend.
It is clear that a large number of guns will be wanted for the protection of the naval stations abroad, and that a long time will be taken to manufacture them. The experience of the Colonial Defence Committee in 1878 shows how difficult it is on an emergency to obtain an adequate supply of guns. It is, therefore, our opinion that no time should be lost in formally approving patterns of the new guns, carriages, and the appliances for mounting and serving them, and in making imme- diate provision for their supply.
We also recommend that when the patterns of the new guns have been approved, the Colonial Governments should be at once informed of the fact, and that they should be advised as far as possible to adopt, in all future supplies of stores, ammunition, &c., the patterns that may be approved by your Majesty's Government.
4. SHIPPING.
Before entering upon the statistics of British shipping, it is advisable to premise that in the Returns which have been laid before us the capacity of ships is described in two ways, net and gross register tonnage. In the Board of Trade Returns, when tonnage is mentioned, net tonnage is always meant, whereas ship-owners, unless they expressly state the contrary, always refer to gross tonnage. The tou is a roomage or space-ton of 100 cubic feet, and is not a measure or unit of weight. Gross tonnage is the internal cubic capacity of the hull of a ship and of all inclosed spaces above the uppermost deck available for cargo, stores, &c. The contents are measured in cubic feet and divided by 100. Net tonnage, or, as it is commonly called, register tonnage, is what remains of the gross tonnage after deducting therefrom the actual space occupied by the crew and by the boilers and machinery, and after further deducting an allowance for fuel. The whole allowance for engine-room deduction varies in different ships from 15 per cent. of the gross tonnage to a higher figure, in the case of small vessels such as tugs to the whole gross tonnage.
In the majority of ordinary cargo-carrying steamers it may be taken as 32 per cent. Where not tonnage is used, sailing ships appear larger in comparison with steamers than they really are.
The numbers and net tonnage of British merchant-ships at the beginning of 1880 were as follows:-
Showing that, of the total sailing tonnage, 71 per cent., and of the total steam tonnage, 92 per cent, belonged to the United Kingdom.
The estimated value of this shipping, taking steam at 20%. a-ton, and sailing tonnage at 101. a-ton, is :-
Sailing.
Steam.
Total.
£
United Kingdom
British Possessions
40,687,420 16,603,530
£ 50,224,660 4,440,720
-
£
90,912,080 21,044,250
57,290,950 54,665,380
111,956,330
Mr. Giffen's Memoranda give further details, and show how this amount of shipping is employed.
The shipping of the United Kingdom is divided by the Board of Trade into three classes, according to its employment-
(1.) In the home trade.*
(2.) Partly in home and partly in foreign trade.
(3.) In foreign trade.
The following Table shows the net tonnage of shipping engaged in each of theso trades in the years 180, 1870, and 1879 :—
Home trade
Part home, part foreign
Foreign trade
Total
:
:
:
Date.
Sailing.
Steam.
Total.
1860
821,079
92,254
913,333
1870
766,742
170,746
937,488
1879
708,082
240,070
948,152
1860
226,556
29,803
256,359
1870
283,682
108,813
392,495
1879
128,027
84.496
212,523
1850
2,804,610
277,437
1870
3,468,717
760,410
3,082,047 4,229,127
1879
3,082,567
2,006,591
5,089,158
1860
3,852,245
399,494
1870
1879
4,519,141 3,918,676
1,039,969 2,331,157
4,251,739 5,559,110
6,249,833
Indicating the following changes since 1860- (1.) In the home trade—
Sailing tonnage, a slight decrease. Steam tonnage, increase from two to three-fold." (2.) In the trade partly home and partly foreign-
Sailing tonnage, decrease of nearly half. Steam tonnage, increase three-fold.
(3.) In the foreign trade, comprising five-sixths of the whole-
Sailing tonnage, stationary.
Steam tonnage, increase seven-fold.
On the whole, the tonnage of sailing-ships, although practically the same as in 1860, has since 1870 sensibly diminished, while the tonnage of steam-ships has increased nearly six-fold in the last twenty years; and although the actual sailing tonnage still comprises 63 per cent., its carrying capacity, having regard to the greater time consumed in sailing voyages, probably does not exceed 25 per cent. of the whole.
The annexed Table shows the progress of ship-building, steam and sailing, in the United Kingdom:
The figures are net tonnage.
Sailing.
Steam.
Total.
United Kingdom (including Isle of Man
and Channel Islands)
British Possessions
Total
No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage.
20,538 | 4,068,742
5,027 2,511,233 12,124 1,660,353 1,602
32,662 5,729,095 6,629
222,036
2,733,269
25,565 6,579,975 13,726 | 1,882,889
39,291 | 8,462,364
Year.
1860
1870
1880
For Home and Colonies.
For Foreigners.
Total.
211,968
13,903
225,871
342,706
51,651†
394,357
403,895
69,055†
472,950
In the term "home trade" the Board of Trade include, besides coasters, ships not going beyond the Elbe on the north and Brest on the south.
t Including vessel built for war purposes.
(350)
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