220 THE IMPORTANCE OF PORT FACILITIES IN THE 



Therefore, the higher the price of our products abroad the more easily will foreign competi- 

 tors undersell the American producer and manufacturer and reduce our export business ; and 

 similarly, the higher the price of imported merchandise the less will be the demand at home, 

 which will result in fewer return cargoes for American vessels as well as smaller cus- 

 toms revenues. 



As for our coastwise domestic commerce, the higher the cost of the operation of port 

 facilities the more closely will the cost of water transportation approach the cost of trans- 

 portation by land, and the greater will be the volume of traffic diverted from steamships to 

 railroads. Any lessening of sea-borne traffic from the foregoing causes will thus lessen the 

 tonnage of American merchant vessels that can be profitably employed. 



On August 1, 1921, our merchant marine consisted of the following documented sea- 

 going vessels of 50O gross tons and over : 



Engaged in Number Gross tonnage 



Foreign commerce 2,518 10,567,909 



Coastwise commerce 1,216 2,767,163 



Total 3,734 13,335,072 



In addition to the above there were 35 vessels of 500 gross tons and over, having a total gross 

 tonnage of 266,125, adapted for merchant service, that have been transferred to the War 

 and Navy Departments since April 6, 1917, and not yet reconveyed and documented. In- 

 cluded in the 3,734 vessels were 836 sailing vessels (or 22 per cent) having a gross tonnage 

 of 1,021,287, and 1,172 wooden vessels (or 31 per cent) having a gross tonnage of 1,790,897. 

 On August 1, 1921, our seagoing merchant vessels of 500 gross tons and over were 

 owned as follows : 



Ownership Number Per cent Gross tonnage Per cent 



Government (U.S.S.B.) 1,804 48 8,048,759 60 



Private 1,930 52 5,286,313 40 



Total 3,734 100 13,335,072 100 



The vessels now owned by the U. S. Shipping Board, as listed above, have been acquired as 

 follows : 



Number Per cent Gross tonnage Per cent 



Purchased 21 1 105,593 1 



Seized (German and Austrian) 50 3 338,556 4 



Requisitioned 252 14 1,133,587 14 



Built by contract 1,481 82 6,471,023 81 



Total 1,804 100 8,048,759 100 



The following tonnage of documented U. S. Shipping Board vessels is not included in the 

 immediately preceding table: 



Number Gross tonnage 



Vessels lost 80 269,236 



Vessels sold to aliens 33 85,702 



Vessels sold to citizens 158 622,898 



Total 271 977,836 



