Further Report On The Free Port Of Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN. 3 well qualified to judge, and whose opinion I asked on the point, the Slaw writes—" The supposed danger of passing round the Skaw, and passage, loss of life and property, is, in my opinion, supported by 36 years’ experience, not greater than in any other part of the world under like conditions, but rather less.” Mr. Hansen, an influential merchant of Copenhagen, in a pamphlet written in recommendation of the New Free Port, discusses tlie matter fully and fairly. Writing of the relative advantages of the two routes, he says—“ There can hardly be any question of comparing the passage through the Canal with that round the Skaw, there being open water all the way from the latter place to Copenhagen, with plenty of room for navigating any number of ships. In fact, narrow water is only found on the short way from Stubben, through the Holländer Deep and Drogden, on one side, and the Flint Channel on the other. The navigation of this comparatively narrow water, i.e., between Copenhagen and Dragör, occupies altogether about one hour. If foreign ship- masters, who are not thoroughly acquainted witli this Channel, would make it a rule to employ a pilot on the short passage from Copenhagen to Dragör, and vice versa, running aground would be of very rare occurrence. Accidents now happening are nearly always caused by captains ignorant of, or at least not sufficiently acquainted witli, the Channel, who wish to save the comparatively slight expense of employing a pilot, and so get too near to the shallows, or who are not careful enough in foggy or misty weather. The pilotage ol a steamer of about 1,000 tons register is for this passage only about 30 kroner (about 17. 13s. 4d.) in summer, and 40 kroner (about 27. 2s. 2d.) in winter, and owners are earnestly reminded of the disastrous economy of dissuading, or, as is often the case, prohibiting their captains from employing a pilot through the Drogden. Better lighted waters than those from Hanstholmen to Bornholm are hardly to be found in Europe . . . . The reason wliy strandings and taking the ground in Danish waters have considerably decreased of late in spite of the increased traffic is, no doubt, to be derived from tlie fact of the Cattegat and Sound being better lighted than formerly, and of superior pilotage. All tlie licensed pilots from Dragör and Elsinore are experienced and reliable men, in whose praise it may be said that ships under their command very rarely run aground.” On the whole, therefore, there seems to be no reason to suppose that any large number of ships will prefer tlie expensive passage through the canal and dangerous navigation at the mouth of tlie Elbe to the possibly longer, but certainly not more dangerous route of the Skaw, and vessels adopting the former route cannot but profit by tlie facilities afforded by the new port. Its establishment is 1 considered as an attempt on the part Aims of the of Danes to keep abreast of the commercial marcli of the company, times. . Copenhagen has hitherto been one of tlie most expensive, ports in the world, but a considerable transit trade has always existed, though it was not to be expected that it could long survive (1882) 1