Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 241

HONGKONG.

THE HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT FOR 1894.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

237

No. 17 95

No. 75.

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT,

HONGKONG, 11th February, 1895.

SIR.I have the honour to forward the Annual Returns for this Department for the year ending 31st December, 1894.

I. Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Cargoes of Vessels entered. II. Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Cargoes of Vessels cleared.

III. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels of each Nation entered.

IV. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels of each Nation cleared.

V. Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Cargoes of Vessels entered at cach Port. VI. Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Cargoes of Vessels cleared at each Port. VII. Return of Junks entered from Macao.

VIII. Return of Junks cleared for Macao.

IX. Return of Junks entered at each Port from China and Formosa.

X. Return of Junks cleared at each Port for China and Formosa.

XI. Grand Total Number of Junks entered at each Port.

XII. Grand Total Number of Junks cleared at each Port.

XIII. Return of Juuks (Local Trade) entered.

XIV. Return of Junks (Local Trade) cleared.

XV. Summary of Arrivals and Departures of all Vessels.

XVI. Return of Vessels registered.

XVII. Return of Vessels Struck off the Register.

XVIII. Amount of Fees received under Table B of Ordinance 26 of 1891.

XIX. Return of Chinese Passenger Ships cleared by the Emigration Officer.

XX. Return of Vessels bringing Chinese Passengers to Hongkong from places out of

China.

XXI. Return of Marine Cases tried.

XXII. Diagram of Tonnage of Vessels entered.

XXIII. Return of the work performed by the Government Marine Surveyor.

XXIV. Return from Imports and Exports (Opium) Office.

SHIPPING.

2. The total of arrivals and sailings amounted to 14,248,670 tons, or a decrease on 1893 of of 100,452 tons. There were 31,470 arrivals with a tonnage of 7,123,748 tons, and 31,321 departures of 7,124,922 tons.

The decrease in tonnage in European constructed vessels is 66,677 tons, the numerical decrease is 306; and although 106 of these latter are British, still British shipping on the whole shows an actual increase of 46,201 tons, the increase in the size of ships as indicated last year, having been continued.

The foreign junk trade shows a decrease of 1,336 vessels measuring 5,883 tons, here also an increase in individual bulk is indicated. If the decrease was fairly apportioned, tonnage to numbers, the decrease of 1,336 would average slightly over 4 tons a-piece, whilst the 45,861 actually shown averages a trifle under 76 tons a-piece. Similarly the decrease in the local junk trade (1,408 vessels measuring 27,892 tons) seems to indicate the retirement of the smaller craft, the decrease averaging slightly over 19 tons a-piece, and the vessels engaged averaging over 35 tons a-piece, presumably there- fore increased size means increased economy even with Chinese craft.