The Imperial Japanese Navy

by Fred T. Jane

KOBÉ HARBOUR.

XII
THE MERCANTILE MARINE

The Japanese mercantile marine is of a steadily increasing character. Quite a few years ago it had no existence, and though in past centuries Japan had a very considerable merchant fleet, few people are aware of it, and fewer still realise that the present fleet of merchant ships, instead of being a wonderful new development, is merely a return to what previously existed. In this matter Japan is rather reasserting herself than striking out a new line.

The principal trade ports are—

Yokohama.		Nagasaki.
Kobé.		Hakodate.
Osaka.		Ni-igata.

There are twenty other ports which have some export trade.

The principal imports are: cotton and seed, sugar, rice, wines, food, etc., wool, manufactured cotton, drugs, dyes and paints, petroleum, manure, iron and steel manufactures, arms and machinery.