Navigation.
The general navigation movement in the various ports of the Republic has become of great importance, owing to the commercial improvements and to the exemption from taxes granted by national legislation.
The following table gives an idea of it:
| Years. | Ships. | Tonnage. |
| 1875 | 20,394 | 3,116,161 |
| 1876 | 21,448 | 3,845,056 |
| 1877 | 22,102 | 4,370,721 |
| 1878 | 20,915 | 4,327,504 |
| 1879 | 22,272 | 4,595,040 |
| 1880 | 21,811 | 4,369,759 |
| 1881 | 23,053 | 4,435,860 |
| 1882 | 23,136 | 5,007,708 |
| 1883 | 22,837 | 5,422,538 |
| 1884 | 26,764 | 7,205,653 |
| 1885 | 29,731 | 8,590,543 |
| 1886 | 28,542 | 8,277,662 |
| 1887 | 29,994 | 9,423,337 |
| 1888 | 35,203 | 10,551,624 |
| 1889 | 35,582 | 12,444,462 |
| 1890 | 32,213 | 11,442,894 |
| 1891 | 27,207 | 9,482,644 |
During the last two years a diminution is observed, owed to the crisis and to the competition made by the Argentine ports—competition which will disappear when the work undertaken to improve Montevideo's port is complete, the project of which is already studied.
During the year 1891 have entered the ports of the Republic:
| Tons. | ||||
| From abroad | 1,092 | ships, | with | 1,429,661 |
| From the Rivers: | ||||
| Gen. coasting trade. | 2,941 | " | " | 1,302,648 |
| Receptories | 9,637 | " | " | 2,009,951 |
| ———— | ||||
| 4,742,260 |
The ships were:
| Tons. | |
| 7,099 steamers, with | 4,157,905 |
| 6,571 sailing vessels, with | 584,295 |
| ———— | |
| 13,670 vessels, with | 4,742,200 |
That is to say, 1,139 vessels with 395,183 tons per month, or 37 vessels with 13,006 tons per day.
As regards the nationality of the 13,670 vessels entered, there were 5,229 national vessels, with 460,467 tons, and 8,441 foreign vessels, with 4,281,793 tons.
Of all the ports in the Republic Montevideo is the most important one.
During the year 1891 there entered:
From Abroad.
| Tons. | |
| 434 sailing vessels, with | 275,184 |
| 658 steamers, with | 1,154,477 |
| —— | ———— |
| 1,092 vessels, with | 1,429,661 |
From the Rivers—Coasting Trade.
| Tons. | |
| 1,680 sailing vessels, with | 85,542 |
| 1,261 steamers, with | 1,217,106 |
| —— | ———— |
| 2,941 vessels, with | 1,302,648 |
Which gives a total of 4,033 vessels, with 2,732,309 tons, for the year 1891.
The nationality of the vessels which entered the port of Montevideo was:
| Flags | Sailors | Tons | Steamers | Tons. |
| Germany | 21 | 14.136 | 112 | 183.450 |
| Argentine Rep | 1 | 192 | 5 | 515 |
| Austria | 7 | 4.673 | .. | ..... |
| Brazil | 4 | 1.041 | 42 | 30.721 |
| Belgium | .. | ..... | 20 | 33.668 |
| Denmark | 10 | 1.842 | .. | ..... |
| Spain | 73 | 21.463 | 15 | 30.577 |
| Chile | .. | ..... | 1 | 22 |
| France | 1 | 565 | 97 | 236.963 |
| Holland | 9 | 5.490 | 1 | 2.267 |
| England | 103 | 85.818 | 258 | 456.690 |
| Italy | 58 | 35.129 | 97 | 174.812 |
| North America | 19 | 10.720 | 2 | 3.081 |
| Uruguay Rep. | 1 | 247 | 8 | 1.711 |
| Russia | 4 | 3.921 | .. | ..... |
| Sweden | 123 | 89.947 | .. | ..... |
| —— | ——— | — | —— | |
| Total | 434 | 275.184 | 658 | 1.154.477 |
The vessels coasting were:
| Ships. | Tons. | |
| With the national flag | 1,551 | 99,538 |
| With foreign flag | 1,390 | 1,203,110 |
| —— | ———— | |
| 2,941 | 1,302,648 |