21. The vessels under the French, Dutch, United States, Italian, and Austrian flags are few in number but of large capacity some are subsidized by their respective Governments. The Russian ships belong to the so-called Volunteer fleet and pass through with Troops, Prisoners, free Emigrants, and Stores. The British ships vary very much in size thereby reducing their average capacity, and the same may be said of German ships.
22. There is a decrease in tonnage under the following flags: American 51,783 tons, Austrian 17,093 tons, French 12,852 tons, and an increase under the British flag of 62,141 tons, Norwegian 28,984 tons. Under other flags the increase or decrease is too unimportant for special notice.
23. Of the Countries with which this trade is conducted: In British vessels there is an increase with British Columbia of 12,446 tons, Java and adjacent Islands 18,783 tons, Macao 38,710 tons, Hainan 9,532 tons and Siam 22,863 tons; there is a decrease of 26,068 tons with Coast of China and Formosa, and of 20,937 tons to Cochin-China.
24. In Foreign bottoms there is an increase with Coast of China and Formosa of 10,934 tons, India and Singapore, &c. 16,003 tons, Japan 75,851 tons, Hainan 10,058 tons, Russia in Asia 16,065 tons and Siam 35,254 tons; the decrease is with Australia 20,644 tous, Cochin-China 56,570 tons, Europe 19,728 tons, Great Britain 19,561 tons, Macao 24,988 tons and the United States of America 10,447 tons.
JUNKS.
25. The trade in Junks from the Coast of China and Formosa shows an increase of 691 vessels measuring 62,875 tons, but the trade from Macao in this class of vessel shows a decrease of 141 vessels and 21,820 tons. There is also a decrease of 620 vessels and 16,603 tons in the carrying trade between Victoria and the Villages in the Island and Yau-ma-ti.
STEAM-LAUNCHES.
26. Of these vessels there are 42 licensed to carry passengers, 43 private boats, 10 Local Govern- ment boats and 7 belonging to the War Department. These boats add much to the active appearance of the Harbour, and on one occasion, under the following circumstances, gave a practical illustration of their usefulness beyond their ordinary employment. The Pacific Mail Steam ship Company S.S. City of Peking (3,129 tons), while passing through the shipping on her way to her buoy, collided with the Messageries Maritimes S.S. Saghalien (2,444 tons) striking her on her broadside damaging her below the water line. A large number of launches voluntarily seized hold of the latter ship and towed her until she grounded in shallow water off the Cosmopolitan Docks, probably saving the vessel from sinking in 8 or 9 fathoms of water.
The licensed launches are gradually driving the small Junks out of the carrying trade with the Villages.
EMIGRATION.
27. Of the whole number of Emigrants leaving in 1887 (82,897) there is an increase on the previous year of 16,401 Male adults, 1,530 Female adults, 300 Male children and 144 Female children, this increase being divided as follows:-
INCREASE.
ADULTS.
CHILDREN.
DESTINATION.
Male. Female. Malc. Female.
Straits Settlements,
7,431 1,276
206
129
San Francisco,
4,713
222
14
Australian Colonies,.
3,299
57
Honolulu,
921
31
31
13
British Columbia,
111
United States of America viaĮ
168
British Columbia,......................
Mauritius,
34
Increase,
16,677
1,533
311
147
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