IS9I

No. of vessels

The enormous increase in the output of mercantile vessels ol laie year to 1890 given in figures shows a gain from a total of 579,000 tons of new tonnage in 1887 to 926,000 tons in 1888, to 1,502,000 tons in 1889, and to 1,646,000 tons in 1890, which

APPENDICE

London Industries, in view of the décline in 1891 to 1 ,532,000 tons, characterîsed as " likely lo bc ' high-water mark ' for somo years".

Notwithstanding the decrease in the tonnage output last year of 113,982 tons, tliere was an increase in the number of vessels eonstructéd, the " tendency to build on the average smaller vessels continuing. In the year 1889 the average vessel built was 1,378 tons, but in the year 1891 it was only 1 ,079 tons ".

The falling off in shipbuilding in 1891 wasnot uniform, Norway, Italy, Austria-IIungary, Greece, Denmark and the Nelherlands showing more or less increased outpuls. The United Kingdom itself reports a decrease in the output, but appears to take satisfaction in the fact that it built 75.3 per cent, of the entire output of the world in 1891, as against 72.7 pcr cent, in the preceding year. One-fiflh of the work in Uritish shipyards last year, it is said, was due to foreign orders.

The appended table showing number of sailing vessels built and total tonnage by countries last year and year before covers, of course, a proportion of the tonnage referred to in the preceding tabulai- exhibit. Itis apparent almost at, a glance that Ihc revival in building of sailing vessels, noticed particularlj in 1890 as contrasted with 1889, was again a feature in 1891 :

Sailing vessels built during 1890 and 1891.