Scott—Labor Conditions in Massachusetts, 1860 - 70 . 181 
bury, and Haverhill also had large industries. In 1880 the 
situation had entirely changed. “At present, except at Uew- 
buryport, ship-building has been completely abandoned on the 
Merrimac, and that town in the census year (1880) presented 
.a desolate array of abandoned ship yards, boat-shops, and rope- 
walks.” 71 In 1860, wages for ship-building had reached their 
highest point, $20.84 a week; in 1878 they had gone down to 
$10.75. 72 In 1860 the total tonnage of American vessels 
amounted to over 12,000,000 tons. In 1870 it had declined to 
less than 7,000,000. 73 In 1860, 70 per cent of the carrying 
trade between Great Britain and the United States was in the 
hands of American ship-owners; in 1870 only 24 per cent. 74 
Hot all of this decline is to be attributed to the Civil War. 
It is probable that the industry would have decayed even had 
there been no war. The change from wood to iron hulls was an 
advantage to Great Britain, for at the time of this change she 
produced much more iron than the United States. The change 
from paddle to screw also tended to throw the business of ship¬ 
building into England’s hands. The abandonment of subsidies 
for the Collins Line and others in 1857, is thought to have been 
another cause of decay. 75 Reciprocity treaties with Great Brit¬ 
ain, in which she took advantage of us* 76 the transition from 
sail to steam, 77 the diversion of business enterprise and capital 
to other more profitable pursuits, 78 the increased cost of ma¬ 
terials and labor, 79 the navigation laws and other national and 
state restrictions, 80 have all been considered partial causes of 
decline. The decay was consummated, however, during the 
Civil War. At that time Confederate vessels preyed on our 
'commerce, so that a large number of American ships transferred 
to foreign flags for protection. After the war they were pre- 
r. Ibid, p. 108, 
72 Wright, Wages and Prices, pp. 28 ff. 
73 Report Merchant Marine Commission, vol. 3. pp. 1768, 1769. 
74 ibid. 
75 Report Merchant Marine Commission, vol. 1, p. 630; vol. 3, p. 1680. 
76 Ibid, vol. 1, p. 630, Statement of J. C. Ross. 
77 ibid, vol. 3, p. 1679, Statement of Hon. R. G. Bickford. 
78 Ibid, vol. 1, p. 381, Statement of P. D. Todd. 
79 Ibid, vol. 3, p. 1749, Statement of Rear-Admiral P. F. Harrington, 
V. S. Navy. 
so Ibid. 
