THE SUEZ CANAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3327, 20 September 1911, Page 8

THE SUEZ CANAL

GREAT GROWTH OF BRITISH TRAFFIC.

The traffic of the Suez Canal continues to grow rapidly in volume and importance. The rate of its expansion has been indicated in various brief statements during the last few but complete statistics have hitherto been lacking. These are now supplied in a Parliamentary paper just issued. The net tonnage for last year shows an increase of 1,171,371 -as compared with that of 1909, and an increase of 2,948,615 compared with that of 1908. The increase in the net tonnage had the effect of increasing the gross receipts which amounted in 1910 to the highest sum ever reached, namely, £5,217,461, as ag-inst £4,825,707 in 1909, and £4,338,089 in 1908. . . i The number of vessels,-which' passed through the canal was 3795 in 1908, 4239 in 1909, and 4533 in 1910. of which 2233 in 1908, 2561 in 1909 and 2778 in 1910 carried the British flag. The percentage of British vessels and their net tonnage increased in 1910 in com-, parison with 1909, being 61.3 ,and 62.9 respectively, as against 60.4 and 62.3 in 1909 and 53.8 and 60.9 in 1908. The percentage of German vessels and their net tonnage was 14 and 15.5 respectively as compared with 14.2 and 15.5 in 1909 and 15.4 and 16.9 in 1908; while the percentage of net tonnage of other maritime nations using the canal in 1910 remained' practically stationary as compared with the preceding year. In merchandise carried through the canal there was in 1910 an increase over the .year 1909 of 2,500,000 tons viz.*, 2,000,000 in Hie traffic northwards and 500,000- tons in the traffic, southwards. . ue greatest’ rise' took' place in the oil seed trade which is increased by 650,000 tons. ' The wheat trade is increased by nearly 300,000 tons, and the rice trade by 200,000 tons. In the trade in soya beans there was only an increase fof 7000 tons, making a total of 450,000 tons dluring the past year. Other products which contributed to the increased trade passing through the canal were benzine and manganese, while jute is the only article of importance showing a marked diminution, being nearly 150,000 tons less than in 1909. . . ... In the year 1870 26.7(>8 civil and military passengers were caried through the canal. In 1880 the number rose to 98,000. in 1890 to 161,352, in 1900 to 282,203, and in 1910 it amounted to 233,978, as against 213,358 in 1909. The mean duration of passage for all vessels navigating, the oanal was 16 hours® 54 minutes in 1910. as compared with 17 hours 13 minutes in 1909; vhile the percentage of vessels navigating by night as well as by day amounted to 97.8 per cent in 1910, as compared with 97.1. per cent in 1909.