The New York herald., 1870-02-18
OUR MERCHANT MARINE.

Report Of the Special Com u,ittce ON NavfQn-
tOn-Causo of tho Decline Of American
shippins-sasgcsaions Of Remedies.
The following Is Synopsis, embracing the more
important facts, arguments and suggestions OF the
report OF the special committee on navigation In
terests submttted in the House Of Representatives,
yesterday
The committee.'in prosecuting Its inquiries have
held sessons in the cities OF New York. Philadelphia
Boston and Portland receiving the statements OF
merchants, shipbuilders, shipowners ana insurance
agents, gentlemen having practical knowledge
and e1rsrense relating to the matter under
investigation. Tue snpowners' associations
of New York, Philadelphia and Name
ana the Board Trade OF Boston were
represented st the SESSIONS OF the committee
and presented the views OF these various nssocia-
tions Like information and evidence have been re-
ceiyed In Inc sessions OF the committee held at the
Capitol during the present session Of Congress. CIR
cuar letters have been addressed to gentlemen en-
gagged in the various branches Of business connected
with the shipping interests, requesting statement
Of their views subject ursier inquiry and also
American consuis at the principal ports Of foreign
countries, asking them to furnish Information 10
regard the condition Of the mercantile marine OF
those COUNTRIES
THE DECLINE IN AMERICAN OCEAN TONNAGE.
The report says:-The increase OF our tonnage In
the foreign carrying trade from 1880 to 1S40 was
about sixty per cent; from IS40 To 1850, sevenyve
per cent; from 1850 to 1850, sixty per cent. This
latter the first decade in which we ind any rea-
pie statistics Of the registered tonnage OF Great
Britain. to enable to institute = comparison be-
tween It and our own. In this decade the tonnage
Of Great Britain employed exclusively ia the foreign
trade OF that country increased about forty per
cent. Our own tonnage engaged In the foreign
carrying trade reached lts highest point In 1851.
being That 542 62S tons, while that OF Great
Britain was at the same time g. l7s $50 tons, giving
US the second place In rank among nations IN the
extent Of our ocean tonnage, wniie we were the
acknowledged superior OF all In the proficiency
which we had attained HI the science OF naval arch
lecture and IN the efficiency oi our mercantile
From 1861 10 1865 our tonnage engaged in the
foreign trade decreased from 2,64212s tons to
1,972 926 tons-a loss OF tons. or more than
forty. three per cent while Great Britain In the
Notwithstanding the check caused by the war
time gain 9S6.7l5 tons, or more than thirty per
upon the production OF the crops OF the South which
furnished w large percentage OF our exports,
the aggregate tonnage Of the United states and
Great Britain engaged III the foreign carry ing trade
mas increased about fourteen per cent, wmie from
the position Of nearly an equal IN tonnage With t6at
nation our own tonnage had dwindied to less than
The change Of the business furnished by our own
country in exports and imports from Amerlcan TO
foreign vessels Is still more STRIKING
In 1850 aeventy-hve per cent OF our total exports
aud imports were shipped III American vessels In
i've per cent lOregn vessels. In 1862 thirty -four
per cent in American TO sXtysix per cent IN foreign
vessels. Our exports have doubled since 1888,
while the percentage carried In American vessels
has FALLEN from sixty seven per cent 10 tnirty-four
per cent. estimated that fully one-half the reg
istered tonnage OF the United States il engaged
the carrying trade between foreign countries, on
long routes carrying the bulky cheap ireipnte, while,
as has been SHOWN W the foregoing table, our own
exports ana imports are passing IN foreign bottoms,
the frelghtB gong TO enrlcn our commercial rivals,
and swell the Ioregn balances against w, when
must be settled III gold.
Nearly seventy per cent OF the importslat the great
commercial city OF the country are IN foreign steam.
ers,
ENGLIsH AND FRENCH POLICY.
AT present the whole tendency Of the freighting
business OF The world ls TO seek direct routes anu
by steam communication, to combine mail and pas
senQer with merchandise transportation. Great
Britain ayailing herself OF the Of steam has OBJ
taned control OF the chief OF these direct lines OF
ocean communication, and In doing 30 mas occupied
the shortest routes and those which, without loss Of
time distance affords the most points to touch
| ana tap the trade be.0nging to them.
Between America North and south, she has nine
direct lines. Three lines sail direct from Southamp
ton to the Gulf OF Mexico-one TO TampicO Mexico;
another to Aspinwaii; the third runs 70 Puerto Ca
| Deo, Venezuela. There are also three lines tnat
sail direct for the Atianuc coast Of South America
steamers There are two lines along the west coast
| Of Africa. botn starting from southampton
1 Besides nHmber OF short routes connecting dif-
furens points, the greatest line OF all Is tnat OF the
1 Penlnsular ,and Oriental Mail Steamship Company.
| Its point OF departure 10 southampton. From that
port their vessels 20 10 Gibraltar through the Med
| ierranean touching at different points, as Malta,
&c. 70 Port Said, thr0ugn the canal, the Red Sea,
| across the Arabian sea, to Bombay and Ceyl0n AT
the latter place line runs TO Australia there
| Meeting with hne already mentioned, running from
| Panama, aud thus making the circle complete.
This extension Of lines OF steamers has been pro.
| cured manly by means Of liberal subsidies paid by
] the British and French governments Tor carrying
the mails.
For the postal service they perform Great Britain
PAYS to twelve Of her principal mali steamship COM
panlcs In the form Of an annual subsidy, fv03, 76O
or S. 3e2 2Al besides the amounts collected for post
! age from other principal routes and number OF
connecting lines, amounting to enough more u
make the entire payments at least S., 500. o00. III
tbis large sum about g. 000 900 ID paid the lines
| connecting with the American Continent.
The French government Is even more liberal than
that of Great Britain aud the enect OF their policy n
seen IN the establishment OF several lines OF the
duest equipped establishments anOat even rlvallnU
the best British lines. the French government pays
means OF these lines France II tapping the chie
| eources or commercial prosperity, North America
the W eat Iudies and Central America, Africa and
Farther Asia.