DECLINE IN SHIPBUILDING.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 5350, 21 November 1885, Page 2

DECLINE IN SHIPBUILDING.

The official report of the RegisterGeneral of Shipping and Seamen states that in the pastmon.h there were added co the registers of the United Kingdom and the colonies 114 vessels, , the net register tonnage of which was 39,974. In the same .1 time the number of vessel moved from the * registry was 166, the net tonnage being 37 915. Out of the vessels added only 36 •were steamers, and many of these were of .:.*..- small, dimensions, .for the river or special "■^service — five iron steamers being added to. -' %he register for the united kingdom of less ' than 100 tons each, while all the wooden steamers added to the United Kingdom .were less than 20tons each. The chief addition to the tonnage last month was in the iron sailing vessels— -35 being added to the register for the United Kingdom, of the net registered tonnage of 19,787. i All -: the woodeti sailing vessels added to the United Kingdom register last month were of small dimensions, with one exception, 24 ships being below 100 tons net register, and only one above that tonnage. Similar remarks apply to the colonial registers, bo that it would seem that there are now very few large vessels being built, audthat the building carried on is of vessels for special trades and uses. On the other .hand, the loss of vessels is more varied, the iron steamers removed from the registry being 14, of a net tonnage of 9,485. "Taking both home and colonial registers, the horse-power of the vessels added last month was 2,708, and that of the vessels ■removed was 3,158, so that the effective carrying power is being reduced. ;; ;