In the ocean trade, there is little movement in the import trade. But even for what there is, there 99 are not enough steamers to carry it. The Government at home has taken about 1,200 steamers from the regular trade is using them in the transport of troops, stores, wounded, etc., between the Continent and England and other parts of the Empire and Europe. The French have taken all their tonnage, with few exceptions, for similar purposes, including that of transporting German prisoners to Algeria. German and Austrian vessels are all, of course, interned. Therefore, merce are few in number—practically all of them British tonnage. These have to attend to American trade with the neutral nations, in Europe, as also the bulk of the South American business, Freights, therefore, are high; and few available for the Far Enst.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.