— 11 



In the zone between Colon and Concordia the transhipping 

 is done directly in the ports by means of boats and lighters. 



The navigation as carried out by towed lighters is the 

 most economical because, owing to their capacity from 300 to 

 600 tons, they are only manned by a crew of 4 men and a 

 skipper. They are used for the transportation of grain and 

 the produce of the slaughterhouses and generally do not 

 go beyond Colon as those of special construction have a 

 draught of 9 feet, whilst the others go as deep as 15 feet. 



The third group, formed by the smaller coasting vessels, 

 deserves more protection from the Public Authorities so as 

 to make it possible for them to compete with the steamers 

 and lighters, the actual competition being very unequal. 

 The number of vessel of this class, which play on the River 

 Uruguay and frequent the Argentine ports are more or 

 less close on 300, they carry su load from 30 to 100 tons 

 and draw from 5 to 8 feet. 



The draught of all the coastwise sailing vessels that 

 entered the Port of Concordia having been taken, their 

 average draught resulted to be from 8 to 10 quarts (from 

 1.73 to 2.16 mts.) 



In order that the river steamers may go up river to Con- 

 cordia it is necessary that the height of the water at the 

 gauge of said port be 2,50 meters. 



During the years 1898-1900 and the first half of the year 

 1901. the number of days during which the steamers had 

 to tranship into the smaller ones at Paysandii have been 70- 

 48-149 and 142 respectively. 



In order that the coastwise vessels with a draught of 8 

 quarts ( 1.73 meters), which are the more numerous, may 

 pass the bar of «Chapicuy», it is necessary that the gauge 

 at «Nueva Escocia» marks 0,86 meters of water. 



This navigation was paralized during 29 days during 

 the year 1900 and 63 days during the first half of the year 

 1901 ; during the last period there was during 23 consecu- 

 tive days less deptli than is necessary for the draught 

 mentioned. 



There were even days during which navigation at the 

 bar of Chapicuy was completely stopped and passengers 

 had to continue their voyage in boats. 



THE COASTWISE 

 NAVIGATION WITH 

 SMALLER VESSELS. 



INCONVENIENCES 



AND PARALIZA- 



TION SUFFERED UY 



NAVIGATION. 



