HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION IN THE WEST. 165 
in connection with our Plymouth commercial harbours, that in 
Sutton Harbour while the number of vessels keeps much about 
the same, the register tonnage paying dues is gradually decreasing. 
This is due to various causes, one of course the absorption of the 
larger vessels by Millbay, and also the reduction in nett register 
tonnage which has been made from time to time by the Board of 
Trade. The last remark of course applies to all tonnage returns. 
I should like to say a word on this reduction of tonnage. I find } 
for instance, that a steamer called the Augusta, trading to Sutton 
Harbour in the year 1869 (31st December), had a register tonnage 
of 125, while on her next appearance in this dock the register 
tonnage was 59 ; and as the dues are payable on the register 
tonnage, this shows a serious drop on the receipts of the 
harbour. To be brief on this matter, the Board of Trade 
introduced their first change in the register tonnage in 1854. 
Since then, from one reason and another, different principles and 
practices have been tacked on to the original rule, till in 1867 the 
deduction for crew space was made ; and then again in 1883 what 
is known in the commercial world as the "Isabella decision," 
effected a further reduction in the register tonnage of steamers. 
And this last decision is about the best proof of the mess into 
which the Board of Trade have navigated their own pet subject — 
"the measurement of the register tonnage." I need not trouble 
you with details, but simply quote a few examples of how these 
rules operate on the receipts of dock companies. For instance, 
the steamer Talisien has a gross register tonnage of 59, and 
a nett register tonnage of eight, on which she pays dues. The 
Tasmania has gross register tonnage 81, nett register tonnage 
eight ; and a boat which some of you know, the Thames, which 
used to be at this port, had a gross tonnage of 125, and a register 
of 41. The Flying Spear had a gross tonnage of 111, and 
a nett register of five. The Flying Arrow had a gross register 
tonnage of 1 23, and a nett of eight ; while the Flying Breeze, 
belonging to the same class and owners, no doubt profiting by their 
arithmetical experience of former boats, has a gross register 
tonnage of 88, and a nett tonnage of the figure nothing. 
What the harbour authorities were about when the Board of 
Trade were patching and altering the nett register tonnage, without 
in the least consulting them, I cannot conceive. However, it is 
plain that had the original tonnage rules been adhered to, the 
