The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-08
QUE MERCHANT FLEET
Increase In TONNAGE. Most OF which was on
the Lakes-Constructlon for the Wear.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE Treasury officials
have carefully excluded all recommendations
and suggestions made By Eugene Tyler Cham.
berlain, Commissioner OF Navigation, in his an.
nual report. from the synopsis furnished to the
press to-day. From the figures contained in the
Office records Commissioner Chamberlain says
that, considering the speed and number Of trips
OF steam vessels compared with sailing vessels,
our merchant fleet has never before beon so
efficient as in the year ended Juno 80. 1897.
The total documented tonnage Of tho United
States on that date was 4.760,o2o tons. the
largest for twenty-one years except In 1903.
when 1t was 4,s25.07l tons. The greatest ton
nngo on record was $780, 12 tons on June 80.
1861. The present steam tonnage amounts to
2.35s,55s tons; sail tonnage, including barges
and canal boats. to 2.4lO.462 tons. Construc-
ton thus far indicates that at the end OF the
current fiscal year the steam tonnage, for the
first time In our history. will exceed the COM
bined tonnage OF documentod sailing vessels.
barges, and canal boats. BY act Of Congress
about 600, 900 tons Of canal boats and bargcs
were exempted from and are no
longer carried on the Government books.
The total construction for the year. s9l yes,
sells OF 232,233 gross tons. Is tho largest annual
output since 1891, when II reached LISA YES
sells Of 1858. 3o2 tons. The greatest construction
wss in 1855. 2,o27 vessels Of $50. 45o :ons. The
Bquare-rigged sailing vessel has virtually ceased
to DO q product of American shipyards. No ships
or barks were built in the United States during
the past. dscal year. and only one b~arkentne.
One foreign.built bark was admitted to domestic
For the first time in the history of the country
more tonnage was built on the great lakes tho
past year than in all the rest OF the country
1900 vessels OF 1857 tons. compared with
I'll vessels Of only 1l5. 296 tons built elsewhere.
The Increase in tonnage for the past decade has
been almost wholly attributable to growth on
the great lakes. from 733.O69 tons in 1887 TO
lao, 1903 in 1897. Steam tonnage increased
10000 tons, OF which increase 10000 tons
belong to the great lakes system.
The American tonnage sold to foreigners In
the year amounted TO s.2l3 tons, the smallest
amount since 1914. The largest amount sold
abroad In . year OF peace was 77.0o4 tons. in
1874. During the four years preceding the close
Of the civil war the American tonnage sold to
foreigners amounted to 774.652 tons.
The Governments average annual eNpendi-
lures for maritime purposes, including river
and harbor improvements, amounted to S2l,-
600, 600, toward which foreign shipping, though
trade. contributed last year $3.50, 600. Fully
20 per cent. OF the foreign tonnage enters the
United States in ballast and clears W tn cargo.
The tonnage registered for foreign trade
amounted to 792, Si5 gross tons. the lowest
since 1s4l. The greatest was {, 496. s94 tons. in
1861. The ST. Louis, Of nearly L.. 900 tons. says
Mr.. Chamberlain, is equal annually as q carrier
to over twenty ships before the war.
The whale fisheries employ 10, ia tons, com.
pared with the maximum 1893, 594 tons in 1883.
About 10000 men are employed in deep sea
fisheries. Of whom $500 are citizens OF the
United States,