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566 and a few charters in this direction have been nego- tiated. Due to the strike of longshoremen at New York, some general Oriental cargo has been diverted through the Puget sound gateway that was originally intended for the all-water route out of the Atlantic metropolis. Cotton and steel are coming to the north Pacific for trans-shipment to Japan and China, but neither of these staple exports are showing the great - volume of a year ago. But the number of steamers plying between the Pacific coast and the Orient is considerably less than a year ago. This is principally true of Japanese tonnage which has been diverted to more profitable sea lanes elsewhere. American ton- nage has greatly increased on the Pacific since 12 months ago and regular sailings under the American flag are being furnished out of north Pacific ports to China, Japan and the Philippines. Speaking as a whole, there is just about sufficient tonnage to care for the present movement of Oriental freight. Some of the regular lines to Japan " and China have their steamers booked Criticizes full! for the next four months buf Ship Board this is not true of all the lines. While -shipping board vessels are getting their share of the business, there is, among brokers, some criticism of the shipping board because the govern- ment will not pay commissions as do most of the private operators. Brokers claim that government vessels cannot expect to compete successfully unless the same methods are employed as by private owners. This feature is cited as one of the matters in which the government has shown a vacillating policy which leaves. shippers and operators in the dark. One contract for moving 30,000 tons of. steel through Seattle to Japan is reported, while consider- able cotton has also been booked, although much of this export, in former years seeking tonnage through this gateway, is now moving by the all-water route out of gulf ports. Due to the steel strike and the shortage of cars, ship operators have found it neces- sary to fill contracted space with local. cargo and consequently much lumber has been taken to the Orient 'in space originally taken for cargo coming across country by rail. Lumber is still commanding a $35 rate to Japan and China and much of it 1s offering. : Exporters are offering to pay $55 for lumber. to a French port but the busi- Policy Tuber ness has not been taken. No fix- URetes tures are being made for lumber to the. United Kingdom because of the Unchanged ow rate of exchange and the fact that nearly all this business is being handled by the British government, which placed its orders in British Columbia and is moving cargo in new bottoms, built for the French government in British Columbia yards. The Transports Maritime a Vapeur has inaugurat- "ed a regular monthly service between' the north Pacific and Marseilles with the sailing of the French steamer Mont Cents. 'This vessel took part cargo of salmon at Seattle and other cargo at Vancouver, m ©. Portland, Oreg., and San Francisco. The next Weecei Of the line will be the British steamship SoutHportT. Additional vessels will be furnished for a sailing every month. The shipping board has placed its first steamship on berth for Hamburg direct and cargo is to be THE MARINE REVIEW December, 1919 furnished at Puget sound ports, Portland, Oreg., and San Francisco. 'This vessel is the ErrFINGHAM, Just completed and if there is sufficient business, regular sailings will be given. The government 1s maintain- ing its regular monthly service to Great Britain and increasing quantities of lumber and salmon 'are mov- ing. 2 Lumber freights from north Pacific ports remained unchanged since a month ago. Lie market is fairly strong, especially to California, to which rates are' still $8.50 to $10. Hawaiian islands freight is $17; New Zealand and Sydney, $37.50; Melbourne and / or Adelaide, $45; West Coast, $35 to $37.50, and Cuba from $21 to $23. There is some call for ton-. nage to Cuba and a few fixtures in this direction have recently been announced. The West Coast is quiet but the Australian demand is fairly good. ° A new note of interest has developed in the Boston port situation. The Boston war has left the port equipped for Equipped almost any degree of shipping ac- foo Pade | Uvity. All 'that is needed is freight. 'Toward this end, the foreign freight forwarders of Boston have formed a permanent association which action is recognized as an important move in the shipping situation. The export freight through New England ports has held up remarkably well considering the longshoremen's strike and the partial embargo on shipments to England. Imports while showing a bal- ance in their favor against exports have dropped off in comparison with the previous month's total. The dock strike at Boston was of short duration and on .account of the extensive labor troubles at New York, much foreign freight was diverted to the northern docks. Considerably more would have been diverted had not the Boston longshoremen, out of sympathy for the New York freight handlers, refused to handle goods originally consigned to that port. Records show that 17 new concerns were organized to engage in shipbuilding and ship operation in New England during the month and increased activity in construction is reported at many ports. Chartering has been light due largely to scarcity of available vessels. Coast- Chartering wise orders have been exceptionally aes low. New direct services' continue ight 1n Bs to figure in Boston commerce. The New England Canadian Steamship Co. will inau--- gurate a freight and passenger serv-. ice between Boston and Liverpool. The Cunard line has started.a new service : between 3oston and Piraeus, Greece, and a several million dollar cargo of Egyptian cotton has arrived as the' first shipment. The Anchor line will add two 10,500- ' ton steamships on the Boston-Glasgow service. Two new Cunard liners will also be added to the Boston- Liverpool service. A new line between Boston and Australia will soon start operating. The shipping board has made further assignments of steamers to Boston concerns. ."The Counct Biurrs has been as- signed to the Warren Transportation Co., the SuicxK- sHINNy to C. H. Sprague & Son, and assignments have been made to the United Fruit Co. and other concerns. The export machinery market has shown a decided increase and a steady demand exists from foreign buyers for many New England products in this line.