New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-08
The COMMERCIAL MARINE AND THE MEX
CHANT sEANCN OF NETWORK.


made Of late years in material prosperity, whether
the development Of her internal resources, agrcul
tur manufacturing or mineral or tae great increase
Of her PopulatOn-there is to which the American
citizen is wont TO point sta feelings Of greater exuts
ton than to that exhibited in her maritime trade A
glance at the annual report upon Commerce aud Nsv
CATION issued by the Secretary Of the Treasury, will
show an advance 80 utterly unparalleled in the develop
mtpt of the shipping interest as q be almos,
incredible. but for the well authenticated sources
from which the Information proving snch results is
derived The energy and Intelligence of our merchants
are manifested in the circumstance thar, though We
cannot be stated have fairly started in the race for
commercial supremacy till the commencement Of the
present century, aud were then materially checked ia
our course during the war of 1872 We have within that
limited time dstsnced all competitors save that
Kipsdom from which we trace our early origin and 70
which we are every day becoming more formidable rival
for maritime Importance Indeed, the great struggle for
that object in future solely between these two
great nations and though il is the opinion Of some that
the sceptre of commercial supremacy 10 passing away
from Eng and il is certain that to win the race We must
GRID up our lOins" and above ALL not undervaue the
resources and tenaciy of our opponent WAC will spare
nothing to maintain that position among the nations
which she has 90 long continued enjoy Much of the
success that our shipping has attained in the csrryas
trade 10 doubtless due the superiority Of our vessels
N point Of speeds truth 1T length becoming. reccg-
lised BY our rivals, who are nov building largely an.
rery successfully after the models of our best clipper
hips il therefore behoves TO be vigant in applying
/ II new improvements in order 70 keep that ad-
I IL. A
pensg Of our new Pacific possessions has called into el.
uencs a rivalry among shipbuilders which has been
I'D will continue to be, of great national advan-
tsse end the performances OF the majority OF the
famed California clippers may be pointed to +. unsp-
proacbable by any but American vessels still, stray
voyage, like that of the Marco Polo to aud from Aus
traa and few of the East India clippers from London
and Liverpool should be UNDECIDED here. Our sue
ce, in ian navigation keeps pace with that Of
our sailing vessels. and in small craft has, ii possible,
exceeded it, though the Royal Thames Yacht Club has,
it appears at length thought it eIpedent to take
slesf out of our book" John Bull if slow in learning.
generally proves ripe scholar at last and though he
APPEARS now TO be put his mette he has great deal
oflost ground recover clipper fleet being so much
more numerous
one frontier Of the Republic to the other is remarkable
We find that in the year 1851 no less than 1857
ses of all kinds we're built, with tunnage OF 2JS2 d.
OF these the large number of 233 were steamers.
There were besides 2 classed as saPs, % briggs 529
scbooneTs and 800 slOops We should however observe
that some Of these we're destined for inland avgatOn
The registered tunnage of American ships employed
exclusively in the foreign trade for the year l-5l,
reached 726 3O7 yet this large it appears is very
much within the burden which they carry n addition
OF at least one third might very safely be added but
nothing can 20 well exhibit the extent Of commerce
with foreign nations as the statement that during the
same year the declared value of imports was c3o72o,
995 and of exports S27 5l7 1906 and this independent
of coin and bullion, the imports OF which IN lS5l
amounted to S5,i53,yol, aud the exports to 3d.
1912 making tOtal of-imports S22l,l79,976; ex-
ports, S2l6932 o52 showing an increase ia only hve
wears dsi6) in value OF imports of 49, 400 and OF
exports Sl29 ,5o9O9o.
With one exception, every sort Of vessel connected
with the shipping interest may ind s representative IN
the port of NewIOrk from the model California clipper
TO the humble fishing smack and every Kind oil steamer
including the noble vessels of the Collins line, and the
smallest tug with ts fashioned machinery and rotting
tinbers Magnificent Liverpool liners, far famed China
and India merchantmen and an snless variety OF coast
ers from the large packetships OF New Orleans to the
small oyster slOOps, with endless number OF pilot cut
ters seam-tugs pleasure yachts, and all sorts OF small
craft are daily TO be seen Ericcsons new caorc ship
too which intends to annhilate both steam aud SAIL IL
another object of great interest and hitherto the sole
representative of motive power which II hoped will
soon be brought TO such perfection as to be generally
adopted.
II il singular that with such commerce as New. York
possesses the exception have ust alluded % should
have reference to one Of the greatest branches OF DIS
tabt trade or perhaps would be m0recoecy dehned as
the most important of our maritime service II us
extent alone would not ene lt To tbs distinction, the
fact Of the vessels engaged in IT, being manned unlike
sty other by majority Of natye-born American citi
zens and these engaged in occupation THAT renders
them the most hardy efficient and courageous offs seamen
gives national value nursery for our SHIPS oI"ar
which oveated and places at once IN the lore
most rank Wemean the whaling vessels once owned to
considerable extent in NewYork and some Of the towns
on the Hudson, but decreased that half dozen
vbsers have not been in this port during as many
veaTs though much Ofthe oil ultimately reaches mere D
recruitment The Eastern States control this business
in which American adventures are comparatively me
noneposts the registered tonnage from Eastern ports
being nearly 10000 Of which 1000 are held IN New
Bedford and adjacent ports and 2OOO IN and near Nan
tucket. a.
But independent Of this trade, in which New YORK
mort NAV be said TO have interest, there cleared
from this Custom House IN one year Tor f0regn coh-
tries accordr to the latest returns, loo vessels pear
ms the American flag and AZ Of foreign nations, with
tonnage Of 2300-2 and manned by crews numbering
90 499 Of which % ~ were on our vessels while, IN
the same year there entered nrarts, 3bH ships u all
countries 2 O6S Of which American. representing
total tonnage of l44s76s, with 52O2 seamen % 955
of tbs number sailing under the stars aud stripes The
value of exports from New York was s-6MDl9, that
conreyed in American bottoms being s63lO 81 the
imports we're estimated worth Sal 5i553o, foreign
vessels bringing 10 the amount OF S343779O3 The na-
tionality of the ships entering NewYork We have not
been able to ascertain, but form calculation by
those which entered all the different ports Of the United
States These amounted in year 20 total OF TO- l55
tubnsge $50 O91; crew 9227. Or these there sailed
a. - J.
7qI5S Next in importance are those from the Hansen
lie tnun. Numbering 2-6 vessels tunnsge lD9. To-