AMSTERDAM. NUMBER of Ocean-going Steamers that made use of the Amsterdam NOTE. From Monthly Report of Amsterdam Statistics. CARGOES, &c., brought to Amsterdam during the Year 1909 by Ocean going Steamers and Sailing Ships. Grain Rice Linseed... Timber ... Petroleum 'Ore Coal and coke General merchandise Mixed goods* Phosphate Ballast Vessels. 27 13 14 185 27 6 255 467 1,019 5 370 2,388 Mr. Vice-Consul Reygersberg reports as follows: Fisheries. During the year 1909 the catches were below the averages of former years, and although there was a scarcity of spoon haddocks and gurnets, the deficiency was counterbalanced by gradually rising prices. Trawl and herring fishing are considered to have been satisfactory. The total weight of fish landed in the market at Ymuiden amounted to 29,836 metric tons and realised 373,000l. This harvest was gathered from the following fishing grounds : The number of arrivals of fishing craft laden with fish amounted to 9,501, aggregating 861,241 tons, being 541 vessels less than the entries in 1908. The British contingent numbered 150 steam trawlers, 386 smacks and 33 steam drifters, and their cargoes realised 16,794/., 5,6517. and 3,1007. respectively, i.e., a total of 25,5451. The quantity of с fish delivered by British boats amounted to 2,526 tons, divided as follows: There are now 96 steam trawlers belonging to Ymuiden, the fleet having been increased in 1909 by nine vessels which were purchased from British owners. Some trawlers under the Danish and Norwegian flags came here with fish that they had caught in the Moray Firth; the results, however, were unsatisfactory, as the greater part of the catches consisted of kidfish of inferior quality, which was sold at low prices. The Dutch Government has made a model fishing harbour at Ymuiden, with extensive Government fish markets and perfect equipment in every respect. An interesting experiment was made recently which consisted in furnishing several steam trawlers with wireless telegraph apparatus, thereby enabling them to communicate with the State wireless station at Ymuiden. The experiment seems to have been thoroughly successful. During the strike that occurred in the autumn of 1909 steam trawlers at sea were warned not to return to this harbour but to proceed to British or German ports with their catches. It has also been found possible for the owners on shore to direct their trawlers while at sea towards shoals of fish, from the information received from the numerous craft that arrive at Ymuiden. The strike referred to lasted from October 13 until November 6, 1909, and was caused by the demands of the firemen and deck-hands of steam trawlers for higher wages and better terms. The strike was rendered possible by the lack of uniformity in the action of the enployers, but they succeeded in dominating the strike by uniting and fixing a standard wage. In order to safeguard their interests the union of employers have established a labour control bureau which issues a labour control book to each employé and withdraws the book in the event of misbehaviour. The employers have agreed not to engage any man who does not possess a labour book, and in this manner they will be able to eliminate undesirable characters. During the strike the whole fleet of steam trawlers remained inactive in harbour, much to the inconvenience of the fish merchants of Ymuiden, who supply not only the greater part of the Netherlands but many towns in Germany and Austria-Hungary, as far away as Budapest. The fish merchants appealed to the British Vice-Consul at Ymuiden for assistance from the trade in the United Kingdom, which was promptly responded to by all concerned. As a result many British vessels secured handsome prices for their cargoes. YMUIDEN. Imports.--The following articles were imported into Ymuiden by sea during 1909 : * Fathoms. The china clay, sulphur, wood-pulp and pulp-wood were imported for the paper and cellulose works at Velsen. The block ice was employed in the fishing industry and the coal was used by the steam trawlers and the local manufactories. Shipping.-114 vessels discharged whole or part cargoes here, 3 steamers completed their cargoes and 20 vessels were weather bound, of which 10 were under the British flag; 2 British steamers entered this port with cargoes of sulphur and coal. A pier in 26 feet of water has recently been constructed, close to the fishing harbour. This pier may be of considerable use to tourist vessels which may land passengers here and have them conveyed to Amsterdam by railway. The Government fish market in the fishing harbour has been extended to meet future development of traffic, and the fishing harbour wharf of reinforced concrete has been extended. This harbour is now equipped with a floating dock capable of lifting 800 tons for the use of steam trawlers and dredgers and large ocean tugs. The dock was built at Amsterdam and belongs to the State. Wireless telegraphy.-A wireless telegraph receiver has been erected at Ymuiden, which is said to have picked up messages from Dutch vessels in the Mediterranean. The only public wireless telegraph station on the Dutch coast is situated at Scheveningen. All wireless messages from ships at sea or from lighthouses on the Dutch coast have to come viâ Scheveningen, from whence they are forwarded to their destinations by land lines. Semaphore station. This signalling station is erected on the sand hills at the south of the harbour entrance and is connected with the national telegraph system. Signals are shown from a mast according to the universal code of signals, and messages may thus be received from ships and forwarded to their destinations by telegraph. The draught of water in the fairway is also given by the semaphore, according to the tables in a handbook which may be procured from the British Vice-Consulate at Yinuiden. Salvage steamers.-There are at all times very powerful tugs in this harbour, ready for immediate service, specially fitted for salvage work. Their power varies from 300 to 1,500 indicated horse-power. Coal facilities.---Bunker coals are delivered alongside in lighters or C 2 hulks by means of baskets and steam winches. The ordinary price of British North-East coal is 14s. 6d. to 15s. per ton, and 1,200 tons may be delivered in one day. There is an abundance of lighters and tugs for the purpose. One of the coal merchants keeps a stock of 5,000 tons of German coals, and possesses two floating cranes which are able to handle 700 tons in 24 hours. The price of this coal is 16s. 6d. f.o.b. Anchorage. The outer harbour affords a safe anchorage; vessels may moor in the North Sea Canal just beyond the locks and alongside the banks of the canal. Marine stores, provisions, &c.-All kinds of marine stores, engine room requirements, fresh water and fresh provisions are obtainable at Ymuiden at usual prices and at short notice. Special water-tank vessels carrying 25 to 30 tons are available. GRONINGEN. Mr. Vice-Consul Schilthuis reports as follows: Grain. In consequence of prolonged and heavy rains during the summer of 1909 the crop of grain in the province of Groningen, where agriculture is the principal branch of industry, was seriously affected both as to quantity and quality. The average yield in weight is considered to be about one-third under the average of recent crops, which constitutes a considerable loss, not only to the farmers but also to those engaged in the grain trade. The amount of grain of the 1909 crop disposed of at the Groningen market amounted to 5,272,163 bushels as compared with 8,075,039 bushels in 1908, being the lowest quantity for a good many years. The average annual supply since 1877 amounted to 6,069,855 bushels. In 1908 the province of Groningen produced 10,894,650 bushels of grain, including 1,063,600 bushels of wheat and 5,840,000 bushels of oats. A part of this was consumed locally and the rest was marketed at Groningen for export to the United Kingdom, Germany and other countries. Owing to the unsatisfactory quality of a great part of the last crop a more than usual proportion is kept for local consumption, leaving less for export. The export trade has been very disappointing and was confined to small quantities of oats sent to the United Kingdom, wheat to Germany and barley to Belgium. The shipments of kiln-dried and bleached oats from here to the West Indies viâ Amsterdam and Rotterdam have continued as usual. Manures.--The imports of manures, which are extensively employed in agriculture in this province, have continued as in the past, Hamburg having taken the leading part. -- Straw. The principal feature of the year 1909 has been the extraordinarily high price of straw, which, however, has compensated the farmers for their losses in the output of grain. The first crop of hay has suffered considerably from rain, but the demand was firm, particularly for export to Germany. When the manufacturers of straw boards decided to contract for their requirements for the coming season, they found that the wet summer of 1909 had reduced the yield of straw, that the bulk of the old straw had been disposed of and that they would have difficulty in obtaining their requirements. The combination of these circumstances caused an advance of straw prices extending to 100 per cent. It seems that the higher range of prices is expected to last for some time longer, and that the greater part of the crop of 1910 has already been contracted for at comparatively high rates. Potatoes and beetroots.--The influences which have caused the reduction of the yield of grain and straw have had a similar effect on potatoes and beetroots, the crops of which have been under the average of recent years and the quality of the last crop of potatoes is inferior. Beetroots were consumed principally by the local sugar manufactory and potatoes were converted into potato flour as usual. Industries. One of the chief local industries is the manufacture of straw boards, the importance of which will be acknowledged when one considers that there are 19 factories situated close to the capital, which consume annually 3,450,000 cwts. of straw. Potatoes are also cultivated on a considerable scale not only for the table but chiefly for the manufacture of potato flour and dextrine for export. There are 24 manufactories for potato flour which consume 500,000 tons of potatoes annually. The province also produces large quantities of beetroot for the local sugar refinery, which exports all its output to Germany. There is, moreover, a thriving industry in dairy produce, which is undertaken by 59 butter and cheese factories. Brick works, saw mills, shipbuilding yards and engine works complete the list of enterprises which exist in the vicinity of Groningen. Coal.-Coal was imported by the liners running from British ports to Delfzyl and Harlingen, and these vessels returned to the United Kingdom with the produce of the local industries; on the whole, however. trade was less satisfactory than usual. Shipping.-Seven British steamers and seven sailing ships were reported at the British Vice-Consulate on their arrival at the ports of Delfzyl and Groningen during the year 1909. Harbour of Delfzyl.--In 1819 the port of Delfzyl was transferred by the State to the provincial government of Groningen, which, in its turn, transferred it to the municipality, but the municipality does not seem to have been able or willing to pay for the port works, so that during the period between 1878 and 1897, while the port was administered by the municipalicy, the total costs of works were borne by the State. It was therefore only natural that the State should take charge of the port once more. Delfzyl was formerly a military port, but since the opening of the Ems Canal (Groningen to Delfzyl) in 1876 and the development of trade it has changed its character and has now become commercial. During the last 10 years many improvements have been made, such as the increase of the depth of water by dredging, the erection of piers, new quays, wharves and cranes, and extension of railway connection. Now that the works are almost complete there is every probability that they will be handed over again to the Provincial States of Groningen. Delfzyl is situated on the western branch of the estuary of the |