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M: ARG 1 NN Gf iaememmaemes ee LIVERPOOL SHIPPING LETTER. Liverpool, Sept. 12--ushere have been no new develop- ments this week in the North Atlantic rate war, and the various companies continue to carry steerage passengers across the Atlantic ocean, at rates varying from $7 to $12 according to class of steamers. Nor is there anything fresa likely to occur in the near future, so far as one can judge, al- though there is some speculation as to whether the Cunard company is not waiting to inflict another blow on their Ger- man rivals by cutting the westward-bound cabin rates in the same way that they reduced those for the eastward voyage. For the present the westward-bound traffic continues heavy and for weeks ahead the liners are fully booked for saloon berths, the Cunard vessels especially being well filled every voyage, and until this rush of returning Americans is over, the westward rates are likely to be kept at their present figure. Nothing further has been heard of the rumor, I noted last week, that there was a likelihood of another con- ference being held between representatives of the Cunard and German lines with the object of trying to settle the dis- astrous struggle. Undoubtedly it is costing the various com- panies considerable sums, although it can hardly be believed, as has been stated in some quarters, that the loss to the belligerents is $2,000,009 per week. Still the difference be- tween the ordinary and reduced rates must mean an im- mense loss. Nevertheless, it is claimed by an authority that even $7 or $10 will cover the actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred in regard to each steerage passenger, and that it is better on the whole to have passengers at those rates than have the berths empty. The fact at any rate seems to indi- cate that for the present, a further conference is not con- templated, and that is the departure this week of Mr. J. Bruce Ismay, president of the International Mercantile Marine Co. for America. It will be remembered that he was present at the last conference at Frankfort, and there is not the slightest doubt that he will be at the next one, whenever it is held. In the meantime, it is stated that Mr. Ismay's voyage to the United States on the Oceanic is for the purpose of effecting new economies in connection with the management of the combine. As I have pointed out in a previous letter, the North At- lantic passenger traffic, despite the low steerage rates that have been ruling this year, shows a considerable falling off when compared with the traffic for last year. This is now borne out by official figures to hand, which give the total 'passengers up to the first week in August as 860,774, against 911,740 in the corresponding period of last year, a decrease of 50,966. This year the total for the United States was 555,- 636, whilst 305,138 came from the Stat-s to this country. Last year westward-bound passengers numbered 683,566, and the homeward-bound 218,174. With regard to the number of emigrants who left the port of Liverpool during the first eight months of this year, there were no fewer than 172,382. In August the total was 33,102, of whom 24,992 went to the United States, 7,079 to British Nortn America, and 291 to Australasia. It is reported here that the Holland-American Line have de- cided to equip six of their Atlantic liners with Marconi's system of wireless telegraphy, namely, the Rotterdam, Pots- dam, Amsterdam, Noordam, Maasdam, and a vessel now building. There is just now said to be some heavy foreign traffic going through the Manchester ship canal. At this time of the year a lull usually occurs in ship canal traffic to and from Manchester. consequent to some extent upon the interval be- tween the first arrivals of cotton and the end of the timber - season. So far from this being a quiet period, however, says one authority the docks have been the scene of continued activity for many weeks, due no doubt to the heaviness of the foreign traffic, a prominent feature of which has been the great number of timber vessels. Timber has never before RE V 3) 4 19 been shipped to Manchester in such large quantities, and though the season is about finished at many other ports, Man- chester is still receiving, and is likely to receive for some time yet, heavy cargoes from North America, Canada, and Baltic ports. In this connection, Mr. R. B. Stoker, the managing director of the Manchester Liners, Ltd., who has recently re- turned from a business tour in America has expressed him- self as very confident as to the future of the ship canal. It is bound to pay in the end, is his emphatic declaration. The following are returns of the traffic on the Suez canal for the month of August and the first eight months of the last three years: Month of August 1904, 1903. 1802 Ships 317 207 283 Recemts: ...... 8,920,000 frs. 8,380,000 frs. 8,020,000 frs. Eight months of 1904. 19038. 1902. SRS 2,701 2,404 2,504 Receipts . 044. 74,494,715 frs. 67,750,200 frs. 70,750,570 frs. The return of shipping for the month of August, issued by the British Board of Trade, shows that the tonnage of ships entering British ports during the month amounted to 3,- 719,865 tons, while the tonnage cleared was 4,193,214 tons, these figures respectively comparing with 3,732,702 tons en- tered and 3,902,793 tons cleared during August last year. Of the shipping entered last month, British ships represented 2,- 503,060 tons, and foreign ships 1,216,205 tons, and of the clearances British ships represented 2,749,372 tons, and for- eign ships 1,443,842 tons. For the eight months of this year to date the tonnage of ships entered amounts to 26,411,677 tons (British, 18,292,338 tons; foreign, 8,119,339 tons) and clearances to 32,064,211. tons, (British, 21,108,565 tons; for- eign, 10,955,646 tons). 'These latter figures show an increase, compared with the returns for the similar period last year of British entrances, 561,681 tons, foreign 25,354 tons; British clearances, 486,038 tons, foreign, 442,483 tons. A new service of steamers is about to be started by Fin- nish steamship owners between Hull and Canada, and thereby compete with British shipowners for the Canadian trade. The Hektos is the first vessel fixed to load at Montreal, for Hull, and it is intended other steamers will follow on the berth. The question of a Hull-Canada service has been talked about for many years, and so it will be of interest to watch the progress of the new development. This reference to east-coast shipping matters reminds me that the rate war between the Wilson Line and a Moscow firm, which has been carried on for some time is now ended. The passenger rate to St. Petersburg was reduced by the Hull firm, and the Russian firm retaliated by reducing $45 fares to $25. The settlement is a mutual one, and now the old fares of $30 single, and $50 return are restored. At one time the competition was so keen that the fares sank to $15 and $25. London rates will be altered accordingly in due course. The retirement of Capt. Lindsay from the command of the White Star royal mail liner Celtic has led to many other changes in the officering of the White Star liners. Capt. J. B. Ransom, of the Arabic, has succeeded Capt. Lindsay in the command of the Celtic. Capt. Ransom joined the White Star Line in 1891. Previous to this, he was in the service of the British Shipowners' Co., and the Pacific Steam Naviga- tion Co., and during his connection with the White Star Line, he has held the command of the Ionic, then the Arabic, and now the Celtic. The command of the Arabic has been given to Capt. Plaskett Thompson, who has been transferred from the Cymric, while the command of the Cymric has been taken over by Captain Thomas. It is being circulated here that the North German Lloyd Co, is determined to try and hold the premier place it has