Progress of British Shipping.
In 1849 the Protective Navigation Laws were in full force. They were repealed by an Act passed June 26, 1849, which came into operation on the 1st of January, 1850. The following is an account of the total number of British Vessels engaged in the Home and Foreign Trade (exclusive of River Steamers), registered at the two periods, and subsequently, with the number of men employed, exclusive of masters. The total number of vessels, including River Steamers, registered as belonging to the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands in 1885 was 23,662, and the tonnage 7,430,045.
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Totals. |
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Year. |
Sailing Vessels Number. |
Tonnage. |
Men Employed. Exclusive Masters. |
Steamers Number. |
Tonnage. |
Men Employed. Exclusive of Masters |
Vessels Number. |
Tonnage. |
Men. |
Year. |
1849 |
17,807 |
2,988,021 |
144,165 |
414 |
108,321 |
8,446 |
18,221 |
8,096,342 |
182,611 |
1849 |
1851 |
17,664 |
3,216,194 |
131,277 |
520 |
144,741 |
10,660 |
18,184 |
3,360,935 |
141,937 |
1851 |
1861 |
19,288 |
3,918,511 |
144,949 |
997 |
441,184 |
27,008 |
20,285 |
4,359,695 |
171,957 |
1861 |
1872 |
19,709 |
4,245,904 |
137,101 |
2,846 |
1,515,704 |
66,619 |
22,554 |
6,761,608 |
203,720 |
1872 |
1880 |
16,183 |
3,750,442 |
108,668 |
3,789 |
2,594,135 |
84,304 |
19,972 |
6,344,577 |
193,972 |
1880 |
1881 |
15,223 |
3,569,168 |
102,498 |
4,088 |
2,921,785 |
90,405 |
19,311 |
6,490,953 |
192,903 |
1881 |
1882 |
14,585 |
3,424,155 |
97,201 |
4,381 |
3,290,875 |
98,736 |
18,966 |
6,715,030 |
195,937 |
1882 |
1883 |
14,159 |
3,369,959 |
95,306 |
4,753 |
3,656,103 |
105,421 |
18,912 |
7,026,062 |
200,727 |
1883 |
1884 |
13,876 |
3,258,330 |
91,383 |
4,868 |
3,825,614 |
108,271 |
18,744 |
7,083,944 |
199,654 |
1884 |
1885 |
13,775 |
3,319,563 |
90,968 |
5,016 |
3,889,600 |
107,813 |
18,791 |
7,209,163 |
198,781 |
1885 |
page 159
Hence it appears that in 1885 there is a decrease as compared with 1849 in the number of sailing vessels by 4,032, and of men in them of 53,197; but an increase in the number of steamers by 4,602, and men in steamers by 99,367; or an aggregate gain of only 570 vessels (sail and steam), but of 4,112,821 tons, and 46,170 men. The following is an account of the tonnage of British and Foreign Vessels, sailing and steam, entering and clearing, with cargoes and in ballast, at ports in the United Kingdom from and to Foreign Countries and British Possessions :—
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Tonnage of Vessels Entered and Cleared. |
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Year. |
British. |
Foreign. |
Total. |
Excess of British Tonnage. |
Year. |
1840 |
6,490,486 |
2,949,182 |
9,439,667 |
3,541,303 |
1840 |
1854 |
10,744,849 |
7,924,238 |
18,669,087 |
2,820,611 |
1854 |
1861 |
15,420,532 |
11,175,109 |
26,595,641 |
4,245,423 |
1861 |
1871 |
28,034,748 |
13,513,130 |
41,547,878 |
14,521,618 |
1871 |
1881 |
41,543,259 |
16,406,286 |
57,949,545 |
25,136,973 |
1881 |
1885 |
46,389,055 |
17,892,587 |
64,281,642 |
28,496,468 |
1885 |
Hence it appears that the increase in British Tonnage in 1885 compared with 1840, has been 39,898,570 tons, or 614 per cent.; that in Foreign Tonnage, 14,943,405 tons, or 506 per cent.
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Tonnage of British and Foreign Vessels, Sailing: and Steam, Entered with Cargoes Coastwise at Ports in the United Kingdom. (Foreign Vessels not admitted previous to 1854.) |
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British |
Foreign |
Total |
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Year. |
Tons. |
Tons. |
Tons. |
Year. |
1840 |
10,766,056 |
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10,766,056 |
1840 |
1854 |
12,762,107 |
46,483 |
12,808,590 |
1854 |
1861 |
17,261,779 |
93,456 |
17,355,235 |
1861 |
1871 |
18,276,297 |
90,822 |
18,367,119 |
1871 |
1881 |
25,720,906 |
121,996 |
25,842,902 |
1881 |
1885 |
27,031,645 |
136,169 |
27,167,814 |
1885 |