Mr. HOLLAND. No, sir; not that part of it.

This showing which I have referred to includes only vessels clearing through the customhouse and "bunker" vessels calling here for coal and excludes the great number of large steamers and sailing vessels trading out of the port, which are not required to and do not enter at the customhouse, and the great fleet of small vessels plying in nearby waters carrying lumber, timber, fish, oysters, and the like. Including the shipments carried by these steamers and sailing vessels trading out of the port, it has been estimated that the value of the water-borne shipments handled at this port will largely exceed $1,000,000,000 and will closely approximate those of our greatest ports.

My recollection is that Col. Winslow's. report puts the figures at either $1,300,000,000 or $1,600,000,000. I have forgotten just exactly which, but I am giving you those figures so that you may understand the amount of commerce that is handled at that port.

I am satisfied that an examination of Col. Winslow's report, which has recently been referred to your committee, will show that these figures as to tonnage and as to values are correct.

The report also shows that the number of vessels sailing from this port, according to figures furnished by the customhouse for the year ending June 30, 1913, is 6,161, classified as follows: Steamers, American, 2.998; foreign, 3,125. Sailing vessels. American, 23; foreign, 15. Number of passengers carried, 989,242. This does not include steamers and vessels that are not required to enter at the customhouse.

It is confidently believed that the growing commerce of the port demands that the width of the channel shall be increased and that additional anchorage space shall be provided for vessels, so that they can be easily taken care of without obstructing the channel. For lack of such accommodations vessels have obstructed the channel and several collisions have occurred.

The appropriation asked for with which to begin the improvement is, I think, $400.000.

The CHAIRMAN. Yes; the first appropriation is to be $400,000.

Mr. HOLLAND. I hope you gentlemen will see fit to include this amount in the bill which you will report to the House. I might also call your attention to the fact, Mr. Chairman, so that you will not forget it, that some recommendations were made by the Board of Engineers with reference to the regulations for the anchorage of

vessels.

The CHAIRMAN. I have read that. They recommend that the Secretary of War be authorized to fix anchorage grounds there for the various classes of vessels.

Mr. HOLLAND. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. But I think that the House passed a bill to that effect several weeks ago.

Mr. HOLLAND. That may be, but I have not seen it. If we could force these small vessels to anchor in water only 10 or 12 feet deep. it would be a very great help to us. Those vessels carrying only 10 or 12 feet of water anchor right on the edge of the channel.

The CHAIRMAN. I think this bill of which I spoke a moment ago did not authorize the Secretary of War, but authorized the Secretary of Commerce to fix anchorage grounds.

Mr. DONOHOE. What is the first amount required?

Mr. HOLLAND. $400,000. Now, if there are any questions that any members of the committee want to ask me and which I can answer, I would be very glad to do so.

Mr. BOOHER. You say that these vessels frequently anchor right on the edge of the channel and obstruct it?

Mr. HOLLAND. Yes, sir; that is true.

Mr. BOOHER. Why is not there some harbor regulation that requires those vessels to anchor back?

Mr. HOLLAND. That is exactly what I want if the bill to which Mr. Sparkman refers has not been already passed.

The CHAIRMAN. Well, I objected to it, though not seriously, in the House. One reason why I objected to it was that it did not come from our committee and the other was that it took the power away from the Secretary of War and lodged it with the Secretary of Commerce. I am not sure that was a wise thing. In fact, I think it

was not.

Mr. BOOHER. Did that bill provide that vessels should back into deep water?

The CHAIRMAN. No: it makes it the duty of the Secretary of Commerce, when requested, I believe, by the localities, to prescribe rules and regulations for anchorage basins, etc. I further called attention to the fact that I thought it would be an infringement of the rights of the States in such matter.

Mr. HOLLAND. Well, we have harbor masters in our State, too, but, as a matter of fact, those conditions are not locked after as well as they ought to be.

Mr. BOOHER. Then that is the fault of the harbor master.

Mr. HOLLAND. Well, I do not know about that. It may be the fault of the law. The law might fail to require them to do the proper thing.

Mr. BOOHER. Well, why is not that a State matter?

Mr. HOLLAND. Well, it may be a State matter.

The CHAIRMAN. The State has power to control that situation. Mr. BOOHER. We ought not to spend a lot of money to remedy a condition which could be remedied by State machinery.

Mr. HOLLAND. We are not asking to have the channel widened. simply on that account. Our commerce down there amounts to over $1,600,000,000.

Mr. BOOHER. But these vessels are now cbstructing the channel? Mr. HOLLAND. Yes, sir; that is true.

Mr. BOOHER. And if they would move out of the way that condition would not exist?

Mr. HOLLAND. Yes, sir; that is true in part.

Mr. BOOHER. It seems to me that your harbor master ought to look after that.

Mr. HOLLAND. Yes, sir.

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Holland, how long do you think it would take to go down there-to get a boat and go down there-and look at the conditions that you have mentioned?

Mr. HOLLAND. You mean the members of the committee?

Mr. EDWARDS. Yes.

Mr. HOLLAND. The Washington beat, I would suggest. could be taken. I could arrange for that any night.

Mr. EDWARDS. Do you suppose we could get some better or quicker boat than that, a revenue boat?

Mr. HOLLAND. I doubt if you could get any faster boat than the Washington steamer.

Mr. EDWARDS. Could we leave here Saturday afternoon and get back Monday?

Mr. HOLLAND. Yes, sir; you could do that all right. You would probably have to leave here at night and spend the day down there in order to look over the conditions properly. Would you not think so, Mr. Chairman?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes.

Mr. HOLLAND. And come back the following night. If there are no other questions, gentlemen, the only thing I can say further is to ask for the appropriation, which I hope you will give us.