574 , TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G, 
portion of the carrying trade of the world; its earnings constitute a valu- 
able item in the national income; it forms one of the strongest bonds of 
union between the various parts of the Empire. This general statement 
may be illustrated by reference to the over-sea trade of Canada and to the 
shipping engaged therein. 
The total value of the Imports and Exports of the Dominion in 1898 
was close upon 61 millions sterling ; in 1908 it exceeded 130 millions sterling, 
having more than doubled within ten years. During the year ending 
March 31, 1908, the vessels which were entered at Canadian ports (inwards 
from the sea) carrying cargoes were classified as follows in the official 
returns :— 
| Freight carried, 
Ships, Tons register. mane mae Crews, 
weight, measurement. | 
British . 2,603 4,539,256 | 1,306,822 254,373 165,078 
Canadian. 2,803 | 718,490 | 202,939 1,449,054 44,594 
Foreign .2,878 | 1,758,549 887,154 36,618 86,293 
Totals . 8,284 7,016,295 | 2,396,015 1,740,045 295,965 
The corresponding figures for ships entered outwards for sea carrying 
cargoes were :— 
Freight carried. 
Ships. Tons register. | Meus / Pana Crews. 
| weight. | measurement, 
British . 2,533 4,258,960 | 2,706,334 | 714,085 136,614 
Canadian . 3,557 1,041,053 616,248 | 291,480 45,658 
Foreign , 4,132 2,211,605 / 1,454,787 | 538,499 88,093 
Totals . 10,222 7,511,618 | 4,777,369 | 1,544,064 270,365 
Taking the combined over-sea traffic inwards and outwards, it employed 
18,506 ships of 14,528,000 tons, whose cargoes aggregated 7,174,000 tons 
dead-weight and 3,284,000 measurement tons, the crews exceeding 576,000 
officers and men. 
Of the 2,603 British ships entered inwards there came from Great 
Britain 852 ships of 3,392,000 tons, carrying as cargoes over 860,000 tons 
dead-weight and 153,600 tons measurement; while there came from British 
Colonies 399 ships of nearly 381,000 tons, carrying cargoes of 236,000 tons 
dead-weight and 44,000 tons measurement. Of the 2,533 British ships 
entered outwards there proceeded to Great Britain 732 ships of 2,529,000 
tons, carrying cargoes of 1,635,000 tons dead-weight and 509,000 tons 
measurement; while there sailed for British Colonies 648 ships of nearly 
400,000 tons, carrying cargoes of 259,000 tons dead-weight and 76,500 tons 
measurement. 
It will be seen, therefore, that the British ships entered inwards carried 
more than 54 per cent. of the total dead-weight cargoes and 144 per cent. 
of the measurement goods, while foreign ships carried about 37 per cent. 
of the dead-weight and rather more than 2 per cent. of the measurement 
goods. British ships entered gutwards carried more than 56 per cent. of 
the total dead-weight, and more than 46 per cent. of the measurement; 
whereas foreign ships carried only about 30 per cent. of the dead aeiphh, 
and not quite 35 per cent. of the measurement, Sa 
