The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-18
SPAlN'S COMMERCE IN SHIPS.
TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES
VERY SMALL.

VERY SMALL
More Than HaIf the Tonnage Repre-
scented by British BOttOms-The
United states Ranks Fourth With
3.91 Per Cent. of the TOtaI-OnIy
3.15 Per Cent. of the Exports Sent
to This COuDtry-Spanish Mer-
chant Marine Building Up Rapidly.
Washington. April 17.-Secretary Wilson
of the agricultural department has an
thorized the publication of a bulletin on
SPANS foreign trade from 1891 TO 1895 in
elusive, prepared by Frank II. Hitchcock,
the chief of the section of the foreign
markets
The facts brought out are of particlar
interest at the present time.
1t is shown that of the total tonnage
transported 10 and from Spanish ports dur.
ing the years 1891 and 1885, inclusive, 81.
per cent. was carried by merchantmen en-
tered and cleared in the trade of the Unit
ed Kingdom. France ranked second with
erlands, with $50 per cent, stood third.
The United States, with a record of 391
per cent, was the fourth country in i'm
portance Belgium fifth, with 2.35 per
cent, and Cuba next, with 234 per cent.
Of the merchandise carried by vessels
entered al Spanish PORTS during the years
1891 and 1895 inclusive, 1854 per cent. came
from the United Kingdom. France fur
nished 943 per cent, Russia $50 per cent,
and the United States 5.65 per cent.
OF the goods carried by vessels cleared
during 1S91-1S96. the United Kingdom was
the destination of 5S.2S per cent, France
received 148 per cent; Netherlands, 11.3S
the United States, 3.15 per cent; Cuba,
2.62 per cent.
SPANS commercial transactions with
the rest of the world amount annually to
more than s30O000,OOo. In 1885 the mer-
chandise imports amounted to S161, S29, SIG.
and the exports to $155, 355, 759. The aver
age value for 1891-1S95 was $315O77, 44O. as
compared with $S17 556, 1913 for the preced-
ing five years.
SPANS foreign trade is largely marti-
time. OF the merchandise imported and
exported during 1S91-1S95, only 159 per
cent. was transported by land while "a
During the earlier years of the decade
lSS5-lS95 more than one-half of SPANS
maritime commerce was carried by for
elgn vessels, but since 1891 there has been
a change and the national shipping is
now in the ascendancy.
The Importations and exports made I'M
der the Spanish flag during 1896 amount
ed TO Sl46,969,Sl6 and those under flags of
other nations to only Sis, 145. SIG
FOREIGN 81
l69l-lS95 about 70 per cent. was transact
ed with four countries, viz: France. sill
per cent; the United Kingdom 2.O5 per
cent; Cuba. TO- 20 per cent, and the United
states, 6.32 per cent. The total value of
the merchandise annually exchanged be-
tween Spain and Cuba, Porto Rico. the
hllippine, the Canaries and her various
minor possessions, exceeded $5OO00,OOO.
The United States ranked third among
the sources of Spain's import trade dur
ing 1S91-1S95, furnishing 1874 per cent. Of
the value of such imports. Cuba came
next, with .4e per cent, while Porto Rico
supplied 2.64 per cent
OF the merchandise exported from Spain
during the same time a. Al per cent. went
to France, q 80 per cent to the United
Kingdom, 1856 per cent. to Cuba, and SAT
per cent. 10 Porto Rico, while the United
States came eighth in the list of countries
u,
The average yearly value of the goods
transported by Spain to and from France
in Spanish vessels was $32, 655, Ats. to and
from Cuba in Spanish ships, $50 064, 536, the
United Kingdom $27, 069 10f, Porto Rico.
$9,499149, and the United States SO, 800, 723.
OF the merchandise shipped from Spain
in Spanish vessels, 36.H per cent. went
to Cuba, q so per cent to France and 7.72
per cent. to Porto Rico.
Coal, which constitutes the most impor-
tant item among Spains non-agricultural
products, is procured chiefly from the
United Kingdom, the receipts from the
United States amounting to less than one
per cent of the total.
During the calender year 1886. were en-
tered and cleared at Spanish ports, 80. S56,
merchants vessels. OF these vessels 19. 1853
carried the flag of Spain, and 1853 vessels
the flag of other nations.
The average yearly tonnage for the five
years, lSSd-1S95, was 24,374 939, while that
for the preceding five years was only o.
499, $50. This increase was due to the
growth in the tonnage of the Spanish mer-
chantmen.
On Dec. 81, 1896 the latest date for which
there are available statistics, the mer-
chant marine of Spain comprised 1873 YES
sells, having an aggregate tonnage of no.
5f2. Compared with the statistics for 1886
the figures of 1895 show a slight increase in
the size of the fleet, and a rather marked
one in its tonnage. The steam vessels in
creased from 4S1 in 1886 to 523 in 1895.