Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 189

JUNKS IN LOCAL TRADE,

185

Year.

No.

Tonnage.

Discharged.

Shipped.

Total,

1893,

9,886

325,256

32.0

4.2

36.2

1894, Plague..

8,478

297,364

30.5

3.2

33.7

1895,

11,645

422,827

29.8

6.1

35.9

1896,

11,535

415,154

31.8

3.4

35.2

1897,

9,546

372,280

36.6

2.7

39.4

Mean,...

10,218

366,576

32.1

3.9

36.1

Ocean-going Vessels.

38. The preceding tables show the annual percentages of cargoes per registered ton, for the five years during which returns have been collected in this Department. The nean for this period gives for British shipping 78.5%, for foreign shipping 76.8%. The best year for carrying for British shipping was 1894, viz., $2.5% (the Plague year when quarantine requirements on leaving the Colony caused many vessels to forego calling). Both 1893 and 1894 were good years for foreign vessels, they carried 82.2% each year. The gradual decrease of the total percentages after 1894, appears to show that the carriage offering is in excess of cargo requirements. There has been a marked rise in 1897 in the total percentages. In the case of British shipping this is due to a decline in tonnage (lower than both 1895 or 1896); with foreign shipping the case is different, coincident with a large increase in tonnage, heavier cargoes have been carried.

39. In 1893, 3,400 British ships, aggregating 4,517,089 tons, carried 79.9%, in 1897, 3,688 vessels with a total of 4,883,745 tons carried 77.7%, or a tonnage increase of 7.5%, and a decrease in carrying of 2.2%, equal to a nett increase in five years of 5.3%.

40. In 1893, 2,602 foreign vessels, measuring 2,803,664 tons, carried 82.2% in 1897, 3,161 foreigners, carried 80.2% of their total tonnage, 3,856,135, equivalent to an increase of 27.3% in measurement, with a decrease in carrying of 2% or a nett increase in 5 years of 25.1%.

41. Whilst British and foreign shipping import pro rata much the same, foreigners appear to carry more exports and British more transit cargo. Foreign vessels also appear to ship slightly more coal in the Colony.

BRITISH.

Year. Quarter. Ships. Tonnage.

Im- Ex- ports. ports.

Transit. Coal. Total.

1st

1893

1897 4th 1,075

815

1,080,055 34.5 18.2 16.8 6.1 75.6

1,261,441 25.8 20.8 23.2 5.2 75.0

FOREIGN.

Year. Quarter. Ships. Tonnage.

Im- Ex- Transit.

Transit. Coal. Total.

ports. ports.

1893

1st

1897 4th

609

883

658,440 43.0 17.3 16.4 6.0 82.7

1,060,800 33.2 25.6

22.2

4.9 86.0

Between the first quarter of 1893, and the fourth quarter of 1897, British tonnage increased 181,886 tons, or 14.4%, and decreased in carrying .6%, or a nett increase of 13.8%. For the same period, foreign shipping increased 402,360 tons, or 38%, and advanced in carrying 3.3%, equivalent to a total gain of 41.3%. During the five years under review 20,182,512 tons of shipping, on entry, paid Light Dues at 24 cents a ton.