History of Canal and River Navigations. 193 



were the outcome of a great deal of thought and discussion, 

 but the question is evidently not yet ripe for legislation. 

 The still greater question of the Nationalisation of Inland 

 Navigations in this country has yet to be decided — a 

 question which has been decided in France by the Govern- 

 ment obtaining possession of -Jths of the mileage. This 

 proportion has for some years been toll free. A small toll 

 is levied by the State in Belgium. 



At the Congress held in Manchester, Mr. Clements, 

 Secretary of the Railway and Canal Traders' Association, 

 read a paper of great interest dealing with the question of 

 Inland Navigation, more especially from a trader's point of 

 view. He based his figures upon the latest official informa- 

 tion, viz., a Board of Trade return for the year 1888, which 

 return, however, is in many respects incomplete, as it has 

 omissions and inaccuracies such as might well be expected, 

 seeing that it is the first return which has been called for 

 on a somewhat complicated subject. Further statistical 

 information is much needed. Before this return was 

 published the information obtainable was most meagre, and 

 the return still leaves much to be desired. The names of 

 many canals are missing altogether. It distinguishes 

 generally the waterways owned by independent companies 

 from those owned by railway companies. Some, however, 

 especially among the latter, make incomplete returns. No 

 column is provided for particulars of the headway under 

 bridges, and frequently no distinction is made in lengths of 

 portions of the waterway differing in navigable depth, &c. 

 The difference in statements made by various companies 

 under the head of maintenance of works, management, &c, 

 shew the great need for editing the returns. The figures 

 for the Lancaster canal show an average of £49 per 

 mile per annum, of the Shropshire Union to £539 per 

 mile per annum. Among the independent navigations, the 

 Severn shows an expenditure of ^125, and the Weaver 



