164 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
Table VII. 
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF TRAFFIC AT CATTEWATER 
HARBOUR 
From June 29, 1876, to May 31, 1884. 
Year. 
Number of 
Vessels. 
Registered 
Net Tonnage. 
Year. 
Number of 
Vessels. 
Registered 
Net Tonnage. 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
2263 
2392 
2232 
2098 
1718 
266,114 
255,787 
234,264 
214,639 
183,567 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1875 
1556 
1610 
1414 
215,189 
183,146 
195,458 
166,037 
The Cattewater Harbour Commissioners came into authority in 
the year 1876, and I dare say some of you will be surprised to see 
the course which apparently the number of vessels and the 
registered tonnage are taking in that harbour. The trade in the 
year 1876 seems to have started with a larger number of vessels 
and a larger registered tonnage than has since been obtained ; and 
the steady decrease in this harbour is a subject which ought to be 
carefully studied by those who have the care of the harbour. 
There are many reasons which one can assign for the decrease 
shown on the diagram, such as the stoppage of many vessels 
entering the harbour for ballast. These vessels now find it more 
economical, the rates of towing being reduced by one half, to 
employ steam-tugs to tow them to the clay ports in place of 
carrying limestone. Another source of decrease has been the loss of 
the cattle trade, which has gone to Millbay. Another cause is the 
loss of the large vessels and steamers, which before the erection of 
the deep water wharf at Millbay could only be dealt with in this 
port by first going up Cattewater, and subsequently being towed 
to the docks or other quays. The moral to which these facts 
point seems to be that the link to which I referred in the first part 
of my lecture ; viz., the connection of the land carriage with the sea 
carriage is not so complete in Cattewater Harbour as it ought to be. 
Compared with the progress of the Great Western Docks, where 
extensive improvements are constantly being made, or even with 
Falmouth, where increased attention has been paid to the wants of 
larger vessels, Cattewater does not show favourably. 
Before leaving this part of our subject, it is interesting to note, 
