SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION — COMMUNICATIONS 933
Shipping and Navigation.
The following was the distribution of the mercantile nary of Germany (only ships of more than 17*65 tons gross-tonnage) on January 1, 1914 (latest figures) : —
Baltic Porta Number Net tonnage
North Sea Porta Total Shipping
Number
Net tonnage Number Net tonnage
1914 :—
Sailing vessels Steamers
404 20,152 311,703
1,587
407,607 2.765 j 437,75* 2,520,609 2,170 ! 2,832,312
Totals
331.S55
3,948
2,988,216 4,935 | 3,320,071
Of the total shipping on January 1, 1914, 2,329 of 318,646 tons; 1913, 2,284 of 298,584 tons; 1912, 2,260 of 312,713 tons belonged to Prussian ports. The total number of sailors required for manning the ships of the merchant navy was, on January 1, 1914, 83,898 ; January 1, 1913, 77,746; 1912, 75,130. The size of the various ships in 1914 waa as follows : —
_ Under 100 Tons gross
100-500 Tons gross
500-1,000 Tons gross
43 255
1,000-2,000 *>™ T ™ Ton. gross ^^re"*
Sailing vessels 2,056 Steamers . 241
533
575
53 80
316 783
Of the sailing vessels 1,481 were totally of iron or steel ; of the steamers 2,159 were of iron or steel.
Built in German private yards, 1913, 936 vessels of 523,733 tons gross (including 22 war vessels of 55,860 tons gross). Of these, 179 of 38,249 tons gross (including 9 war vessels of 2,240 tons gross) were built for foreigners. Built in foreign yards for Germans, 103 trading vessels of 42,267 tons gross.
Internal Communications. I. Railways.
In 1915 there were 3,296 miles of tramway, and 7,171 miles ' Kleiubahnen.
On April 1. 1920, all the various German state railways were transferred to the Central Government. The total length of railway line was 38,809 miles on December 31. 1918. Of this total 36,006 miles are state lines.
II. Canals and Navigations.
The latest available statistics are for 1904. They will be found in the Statesman's Year-Book for 1913, p. 885. On 'June 17, 1914, the Hohenzollern Canal, between Berlin and Hohensaaten, was opened ; in 1914 also the Rrein-Herae Canal, and in 1915 the Ems-Weser Canal.
III. Posts and Telegraphs.
The postal and telegraphic services are retained in the hands of the Central Government.
Statistics for 1913 :— Employees, 248,195; number of post offices, 41,115; number of telegraph offices, 50,013.
