34 REVIVAL OF WOODEN SHIPBUILDING AS A WAR INDUSTRY. 



Going back a few years, when normal conditions prevailed, we find the follow- 

 ing condition of the shipbuilding industry: — 



Average production of shipyards, throughout the world, for 1909 was only 

 1,602,057 tons. This represents low tide. In 1913 we find the high tide mark at 

 3,332,882 tons. Therefore we may take, as a fair average, the five-year period 

 1910-1914, inclusive, during which the average annual production was 2,740,000 tons 

 gross. Of this amount : — 



Per cent Tons 



The United Kingdom launched about. 60 1,650,000 



Germany launched about 12 333,000 



United States coast and Great Lakes (rivers excluded) 9^ 253,000 



France 4>^ 121,000 



All other countries, including Canada and British colo- 

 nies 14 385,000 



Total 2,742,000 



world's tonnage. 



The entire world's merchant tonnage for the year ending June 30, 191 5, 

 amounted to 49,262,000 tons, owned as follows : — 



Per cent Tons 



United Kingdom 43-5 21,300,000 



United States (excluding rivers and small lakes) .... 12 5,900,000 



Germany 10 5,000,000 



France (less than) 5 2,300,000 



Taking the greatest tonnage of merchant vessels launched by any nation in any 

 one year between 1899 and 191 5 inclusive, and combining these, we can arrive at a 

 fair approximation of the then production capacity of the world's shipyards. 



These figures give a total capacity of 3,685,000 tons of which — 



Per cent Tons 



The United Kingdom and colonies and Canadian Lake 



ports launched 54 1,984,000 



United States coast and Great Lakes 14.6 540,000 



Germany . 12.4 465,000 



All other countries 19 696,000 



But do not overlook this point — these latter figures are based on the maximum 

 capacity for each country as developed at different periods, but not actually realized 

 in any one year. 



Generally speaking, these were the conditions prior to the introduction of Ger- 

 man "reckless and ruthless" submarine warfare, and the figures are reasonably ac- 



