Since the opening of commerce, in 1865, the number of ships arriving annually varies from six or eight to nearly forty.

In 1866 there were twenty-three vessels on government, and fifteen on private account.

The government vessels brought flour, salt, lead, iron, machinery, telegraph material, army and navy equipments, and a thousand and one articles included under the head of 'government stores.' The private ones, (three of them American,) brought miscellaneous cargoes for the mercantile community.

There were no wrecks in that year, or at any rate, none up to the time of my departure.
At the Amoor I first began to hear those stories of peculation that greet every traveler in Russia.

According to my informants there were many deficiencies in official departments, and very often losses were ascribed to 'leakage,' 'breakage,' and damage of different kinds.