The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-12-13

gellan, Will mark an epoch IN local
maritime history.
The placing Of the Wilhelmina in
the Pacific service is calculated to lend
an impetus 10 the freight and passen-
ger business between this port and
Hawaii. as well as to stimulate ship
ping on the Sound. It is reported that
with the Inauguration of the new SER
vice the Oceanic Steamship Company
will put on another steamer to run
with the Alameda between San Fran
cisco and Honolulu. This will in all
probability be the Sierra, which is now
heing extensively remodeled and fitted
for fast service. The American Ha-
waiian Steamship Company, it is said
is also planning to get some of the
business which will naturally fall to
the new line. and TO this end will in
crease its feet and sailings to the Is
lands after the first Of the wear.
It was said Yesterday that the Mat
son company was negotiating for a
new wharf. The one, Howard No. 3.
occupied by the company at present is
hardly big enough to take care of the
Wilhelmira and the other steamers and
sailing vessels flying the Matson house
flag. The new concrete pier No. So is
said to be ideal for the steamship com
pany's requirements.-Chroniele.
Inspectors Worked Hard.
The force of customs inspectors. had
strenuous week, with SO many steam
ers and sailing vessels in port, and
with big cargoes being delivered. Some
of the night-shift men worked extra,
and the day men put in extra time
also. One of the customs men said this
was the hardest week any of them had
had in long time.
We Have 25,6s8 Ships.
The total documented shipping of the
United States on July /, 1909, COM
prised 25,6SS vessels of 1885, gross
tons, larger tonnage than under any
foreign flag except the British, 1s,s00,-
900, according to the report of the COM
missioner of navigation made recently
to Secretary Nagel of the department
of commrce and labor at Washington,
D. c.
American shipping is almost wholly
engaged in domestic commerce, and
6,501.250 tons are enrolled or licensed
for this purpose. while Germany IS H.
100000 gross tons are almost wholly,
of course, in foreign trade. American
tonnage registered for foreign trade
amounts to only SS7 sos tons, loss of
$4,000 tons since last year, and much
of the tonnage yet registered is perma-
nently laid up. The Great Lakes en-
ploy 2,782,481 gross tons.
During the fiscal year shipbuilding
shared in the general business depres-
sion here and abroad, and only 1247
vessels of 23S,000 gross tons were built,
the smallest amount since 1898. In
Great Britain, however, shipbuilding
also declined from 1,580,000 tons to
914,00 tons. Prospects ane contracts
show a decided improvement in ship
building at home during the current
fiscal year.
Tonnage duty amounted to 81 ,052, 374,
a decrease of $24.197. American ships
paid $S0,397, British ships $595,737,
German ships $149,S79. The United
States paid British and German ships
for carrying its mails, however, more
! than these amounts. The exemption of
vessels in fresh water trades from ton
mage tax is recommended. Under the
new tariff law five foreign built yachts
have paid $35.S54 taxes since Septem,
Der. The constitutionality of the law
has been questioned by some yacht
owners, and awaits judicial determine
ton. Shipping commissioners shipped
and discharged 341,980 men Counting
repeated voyages) on American ships
Only 40 per cent. of the crews of those