European-constructed Vessels exclusive of River Steamers.
No. of
No. OF
FLAG.
VESSELS.
TIMES IN
TOTAL.
TONNAGE.
PORT.
British,
267
Twelve
978
1,430,565
German,
67
and
277
323,637
Other Foreigners,
108
under.
274
355,164
Total,
442
1,529
2,109,366
British,
27
Thirteeu
570
570,220
German,
21
and
493
403,089
Other Foreigners,
13
over.
310
317,134
Total,..
61
1,373
1,290,443
2,902
3,399,809
265
Grand Total,................ 503
The average of entry is therefore 5.8 per ship.
9. The general trade, as represented by the amount of shipping from and to the various countries, shows a slight decrease generally-large in the Siam, Cochin China and Macao trade, with a marked increase in that to the Coast of China and Formosa, India and Singapore. In foreign bottoms there is a decided general increase; a very marked decrease is, however, apparent in the Coast of China and Formosa, Cochin China and Siam trades, attributable to the shrinkage in the Junk trade, and the failure of the rice-crops in Siam and Cochin China. Junks cause the total numerical decrease, whilst there is shown an increase of tonnage.
JUNKS.
10. As shown in the foregoing tables, the Junk trade for 1891, amounted to 3,726,655 tons, being a decrease from the previous year o 177,897 tons, although there is an increase numerically of 1,565 Junks. The shrinkage is in the oreign Junk Trade and amounts to 1,283 vessels aggregating 308,961 tons, against which is to be placed an increase in Junks in Local Trade numbering 2,848 vessels measuring 131,064 tons. The causes of this shrinkage have been indicated in previous corres- pondence. Compared wit' the average of the past three years, the Junk trade of 1891 shows a decrease of 301,254 tons in the Foign trade, and an increase of 162,919 tons in the Local trade, with a total increase of 2,015 vessels.
11. The recurring subject of the interference of the Chinese Revenue Cruizers with the Junk trade of the Colony, was only once brought officially forward in the past year, on the occasion of an alleged violation of British Waters when a Hongkong licensed trading junk was boarded, searched and a revolver found thereon confiscated. As usual the exact position of the vessel being subject to the conflicting evidence of interested parties, with an absence of European testimony on the part of the Junk, the question of within or without British Waters was not capable of legal proof.
12. 4,225 steamers, 126 sailing vessels and 28,729 junks arrived during the year, giving an average of 90 vessels arriving daily in the waters of the Colony as against 88 the year before.
Of the steamers 66 per cent. were British, a falling off of 2 per cent. from 1890, of these 52 per cent, were "Ocean going" as against 54 the year before, and of the Foreigners 11 per cent. were river craft an increase of two per cent. on the previous year.
STEAM-LAUNCHES.
13. On the 31st December, there were 100 steam-launches in the Harbour, of these 48 were licensed for the conveyance of passengers, 44 were privately owned, 8 were the property of the Colonial Govern- ment, besides three Police launches and a steam floating fire engine. There were in addition 5 launches, the property of the War Department. During the year 8 launches were sold, one sunk and one con- demned.
EMIGRATION.
14. There has been a slight increase in the numbers of Chinese leaving the Colony for ports other than those of China and Japan. The numbers to Honolulu have nearly trebled, increased to Mauritius, the Straits Settlements and Vancouver, decreased 25 per cent, to San Francisco and totally ceased to Deli.
1885.
1886.
1887.
1888.
1889.
1890.
1891.
57,517 64,522 82,897
96,195 47,849 42,066 45,162
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