COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE. 31

more, New Orleans, Galveston, the West Indies, South America,
China, Japan, the East Indies, Australia, South Africa, the Levant,
and other markets. This company’s ocean steamers approximated
1,700,000 gross tons, or more than all the steam shipping of the
United States engaged in foreign trade.
The North German Lloyd had a fleet aggregating nearly 1,000,000
rross tons, and in the number of markets reached wa$ second only
to the Hamburg-American. In additien to these two great companies
 other German lines plied between Germany and North
America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
FRANCE.

In 1881 France provided subsidies for all ships carrying the
French flag in international trade. Since that date the encouragement
 of the merchant marine has been continued, and in 1915
the French fleet included more than 1,000 steamships with a gross
tonnage exceeding 1,900,000 and 500 sailing vessels with a total gross
tonnage of nearly 400,000. The principal French lines reach North
and South America, Africa, the Levant, and the Orient.
In 1913 the total imports of France aggregated 30,000,000 metric
tons of which slightly less than one-fourth was carried in French
vessels, but approximately one-half of the 7,700,000 metric tons of
French exports was shipped in French bottoms.!

JAPAN.

Japan has been very energetic in developing shipping to foster
the desired extension of its foreign trade, and Japanese steamship
[ines are among the most heavily subsidized in the world. Its merchant
 marine has had a remarkable growth and now comprises 1,200
steamers of more than 1,800,000 gross tons, together with hundreds
of small sailing vessels.
The Nippon Yusen Kaisha operates a regular service between
North America, Europe, Australia, and oriental ports, while other
lines maintain sailings to North and South America and the prinripal
 oriental ports.

OTHER FOREIGN NATIONS.

The shipping of various other foreign nations is of much importance
 in the commerce of the world. Thus, Norway maintains
a merchant fleet of 1,700 steamers of nearly 2,000,000 gross tons, as
well as 500 sailing ships of 550,000 gross tons. Sweden has 1,100
steamers of more than 1,000,000 gross tons and 400 sailing ships of
100,000 gross tons. These Scandinavian ships are more than sufficient
 for the foreign trade of these two nations and are highly
1 Tableau Général du Commerce et de 1a Navigation, 1918, vol. 2, p. 11. -