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534 «THE MARINE REVIEW ‘market is soft. The big sensation of the month was the cut in grain and flour freights from north Pacific ports to the United Kingdom initiated by the ship- ping board. The government rate was fixed at $20 -on Aug. 1 to either Great Britain or north continent ports. Inasmuch as the previous rate had been $28 to United Kingdom and $29 to continent, the sharp cut caused a temporary flurry. The shipping board's object is said to have been the desire to divert surplus foodstuffs to Pacific terminals in order to relieve congestion at eastern ports and to bring rail- -road equipment to the coast. Present indications are that there will be a fairly heavy movement of grain and flour from north Pacific ports this season but until the shipping boards policy and the amount of government tonnage avail - able for this business is made apparent, exporters are extremely chary about making additional commit- ments. Practically all of the food administrations flour has already been shipped and the market 1s now awaiting opportunity to adjust itself following ‘the shipping board’s bid for new business. It is believed that the bulk of the exports will be in the form of wheat and barley, as was the case prior to the war, instead of flour which has predominated during the last three seasons. On the oriental route, business 1s light and freights are weak. While Oriental the westbound lines are holding To fairly well to the new tariffs, which i inclide steel at $11, some efforts at Is Dull rate cutting have been attempted by tramps, one offer having been made at $7.50. Eastbound tonnage is bringing but little cargo and no improvement in the oriental conunerce is anticipated for at leasi 60 days. The probable effects of the Jones bill, especially section 28, are still worrying the representatives of ‘foreign lines. None of these companies has actually moved from Pacific ports yet but judging by reports from Japan, the Nipponese companies are preparing to start a rate war. Each side appears to be waiting for the other to move and in the meantime everyone is in a state of expectancy. The fact that the Japanese companies have withdrawn from the Oriental con- ference, becatise they wish to be free to act as occa- sion may require, is regarded as significant. Information from fapan is to the effect that many small steamers are idle and others are being added to the “boneyard” fleets, because of unprofitable busi- ness. Japanese owners are having their vessels turned back to them upon expiration of charters and they are now seeking business themselves. Time charter rates in Japan have dropped from 14.50 yen last December to 7.50 yen in June. Charters of the month include two large steel steainers to carry railroad ties from north Pacific to Great Britain at the prevailing rate of M5. In the iocal charter market, $20 is being offered for tonnage to carry coai from Puget sound to Scandinavian ports, $34 for lumber to Sydney and New Zealand, $37 to Melbourne and ddelaide, $50 for creosoted railroad ties to Bombay, $20 for lumber to Cuba, $30 to west coast South America, $14 to Honolulu and $55 to South Africa. Several sailing ships have recently been fixed for lumber at private terms which indicates a soft market. The Pacific-Carihbean-Gulf ine has been inaugurated and will cperate on a monthly basis between New Orleans and Pacific coast ports. The canceling of sailings of export coal by the shipping board, while Boston materially benefitting New England Li 5 coal consumers, has at the same time asad hurt Boston shipping interests, as Expand many of the offshore coal carriers were owned at that port. Shipping during the month has continued about on the level of the previous month. More interest, however, seems to be developing in the port on the part of shippers and several new lines are about to be started. The Nortii Atlantic & Western Steamship Co. will. inaugurate a line between Boston and Liverpool and Glasgow. been allocated by the shipping board. The Barber Steamship Lines, Inc., save made arrangements to operate steamers from Boston to the Far East, Cargo will be taken for ports in China, Japan and the Philippines. The North Atlantic & Western Steamship Co., together with the Dollar Steamship Co., has completed arrangements to have Manila made a port of call in the oriental service. New igngland manufacturers can therefore, tow make shipment direct froin Boston to the Philippines. Lines to the Mediterranean ports have been carrying full cargoes from Boston, the principal items being autoinobiles, machinery, shoes, leather, flour and grain. Shipments to Laltie and North Sea points have failen off. The reason given in some cases is ihe political unrest of the countries concerned. Scandinavian markets have taken a favorable aggre- gate of imachine tools and manufactured articles. ‘ne vessel sailing for Antwerp near the end of August carried 700 cases of machinery, 1500 boxes of tin plate with the balance of the cargo made up of shoes, shoe. blanks, pulp, and leather. The West ‘ARCOVAR, Sailing for Havre, carried a cargo made up largely cf New England machinery, including crank shafts and mili supplies. Imports have included old rope and waste paper from London, rubber and jute from India, oil from Mexico, matches and wood pulp from Copenhagen, glumbago, rubber, tea and burlaps from the Philippines, wool, skins, hides and glue stock from South America, and unusually large cargoes of sugar from Cuba. The future of the port of Boston has been the subject of much discussion Aids New = among shipping circles. The effect England of the freight advance cannot yet be aes determined, although most interests orts feel it ‘vill work to the advantage of Boston through the improvement of railroad shipping conditions and also because of the iower relative rate to foreign countries from New England originating points. _ Heavy grain shipments are expected through the tall at Portland, Me. Connecticut manufacturers have taken an increased interest in the port of New London, Conn., and arrangements have been made for the use of the recently completed $1,000,000 state pier at that port in connection with the new 4-steamert- service between New London and Norfolk,’ Va, 2a number of vessels passing through the Cape Cod canal during July was 1008, which is the highest ngure for July in the canal's history. August figures are expected to surpass this total, on account of the mereased movement of coal. During the latter part of August transatlantic passenger vessels left Amer- ican ports about 65 per cent full. October, 1920 Two ships for this purpose have already