Show progress of Jap japanese amese commerce in three and a half years japan bas ba s added to its merchant navy steam hips ships and tonnage and al aso so sailing vessels at 0 tonnage in 1896 the country possessed only a single steamship over tons it baa has now twenty one ot of this class in 1898 japan owned steamships of tonnage and sailing vessels of 0 tonnage in 1899 steamships of tonnage and 1485 sailing sitting vessels of 0 tonnage in 1900 steamships of tonnage and 2783 sailing mailing sela of tonnage in 1901 steamships team ships of tonnage and 3 sailing mailing vessels of tonnage the number of sailors has until in 1901 there were 15 officers and engineers 1304 foreign to the merchant fleet the small number of 0 foreigners Is as striking as the in crease of the commercial nivy |