Indeed, the Commissioner of Navigation, in his report for 1901, said: "For serious competition with foreign nations under the conditions now imposed upon ocean navigation, we are practically limited to our registered iron and steam steel vessels, which in all number 124, of 271,378 gross tons.

Those under 1,000 gross tons are not now commercially available for oversea trade.

There remains 4 steamships, each of over 10,000 gross tons; 5 of between 5,000 and 6,000 gross tons; 2 of between 4,000 and 5,000 tons; 18 between 3000 and 4000 tons; 35 between 2000 and 3000 tons, and 33 between 1000 and 2000 tons; in all 97 steamships over 1000 tons, aggregating 260,325 gross tons." Most of these are engaged in coastwise trade.

The fleet of the Hamburg-American line alone, among our many foreign rivals, aggregates 515,628 gross tons.
However, we must bear in mind that this seemingly insignificant place held by the United States merchant marine represents only the part it holds in the international carrying trade of the world.

Such a country as Germany must expend all its maritime energies on international trade.