Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 238

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For Ocean vessels under the British Flag, this Table shows a decrease of 298 ships of 482,853 tons, mainly due to the disappearance of vessels which had been attracted to these waters on account of the temporary withdrawal of Japanese ships during the Russo-Japanese War.

In British River steamers there is a decrease of 1,024 ships of 711,521 tons shown, which is due to the serious disasters that befell these vessels during the typhoon on the 18th September, and to the gutting by fire of the S.S. "Hankow" in the following month. Pending the necessary repairs of the crippled vessels, coasting steamers of small size were utilised in some instances by the different companies.

For Foreign Ocean vessels an increase of 442 ships of 1,272,710 tons is shown, due almost wholly to Japanese vessels resuming their accustomed routes. 594 Japanese ships of 1,275,640 tons entered and cleared in 1906, compared with 58 ships of 69,146 tons in 1905, an increase of 536 ships of 1,206,494 tons. Further, Corean steaminers for the first time since 1901 entered the Port, and assisted in the increase by 30 ships of 61,596 tons. Vessels under the Norwegian Flag show a decrease of 135 ships of 186,093 tons.

For Foreign River steamers an increase of 96 ships representing 8,320 tons is shown and can be ascribed to more trips being made by vessels under the French and Portuguese Flags, supplemented by vessels under the German and Japanese Flags which did not compete in this trade before.

The actual number of ships of European construction (exclusive of River steamers and Steam-launches) entering during the year was 870, being 417 British and 453, Foreign.

These 870 ships entered 4,012 times and gave a total tonnage of 7,151,328 tons. Compared with 1905, 19 less ships entered 86 more times, and gave an aggregate tonnage increased by 404,728 tons.

tons.

There were 214,556 arrivals of 16,394,508 tons, and 215,170 departures of 16,352,760

Of British Ocean-going vessels 3,595,879 tons entered, and 3,593,592 tons cleared.

Of Foreign Ocean-going vessels 3,565,449 tons entered, and 3,528,046 tons cleared.

Of British River steamers 2,424,961 tons entered, and 2,417,540 tons cleared.

Of Foreign River steamers, 334,831 tons entered, and 333,086 tons cleared.

Of Steamships under 60 tons trading to Ports outside the waters of the Colony 20,141 tons entered, and 20,141 tons cleared. These figures do not include private: Steam-launches.

Of Junks in Foreign Trade 1,307,972 tons entered, and 1,311,439 tons cleared.

Of Steamships under 60 tons plying within the waters of the Colony 4,125,768 tons entered, and 4,125,768 tons cleared. These figures are incomplete, as the "Star" Ferry Company's craft are not included, the Company stating that no record is kept of the number of trips made, or passengers carried, by their vessels.

Of Junks in Local Trade 1,019,507 tons entered, and 1,023,148 tons cleared.

Of the total tonnage that entered and cleared:

British Ocean-going vessels represented..

21.9

Foreign Ocean-going vessels represented

21.6%

British River steamers represented.

14.7 %

Foreign River steamers represented

2.3 %

Steamships under 60 tons, Foreign Trade represented...

0.1 %

Junks in Foreign Trade represented

8.0 %

Steamships under 60 tons, Local Trade represented... 25.2 % Junks in Local Trade represented

6.2 %

100.0