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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

Progress of British Shipping

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 They were repealed by an Act passed June 26, 1849, which came into operation on the 1st of January, 1850.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.

Totals.
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
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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 :—
Tonnage of Vessels Entered and Cleared.
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.

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.)
British Foreign Total
Year. Tons. Tons. Tons. Year.
1840 10,766,056 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