Denmark Agriculture Commerce

$268 a ton. The possibility of los- ing the nation’s merchant ma- rine from the attractiveness of these high prices for shipping became greater perhaps than the dan- ger of war losses. Ihe government accord- ingly made rulings that no ships should be sold outside of the country and that the insurance paid on de- stroyed tonnage should be devoted to the construction of new vessels. Denmark’s merchant fleet may, thereloie, be expected within a reasonable time to regain at least its noi - mal size. Contrary to general expectations, no great falling off in revenue from Danish shipping occurred after the signing of the armistice. The continued world demand for tonnage brought large earnings to Denmark s merchant marine din- ing 1919. Danish vessels, no longer hampered by war re- strictions, have resumed their normal trade routes to a large extent. Moreover, the losses of shipping caused by the war are being replaced. As of June 30th 1919 Denmark had a merchant fleet of 702,436 tons with 57,771 tons under con- struction. Copenhagen Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is the center of the Danish shipping industry and at present ranks as the most important port in Northern Continental Kurope. Strategi- cally situated at the entrance to the Baltic Sea, this city is a natural distributing point not only for Denmark but lor all the Baltic countries. In 1895 Copenhagen established its Free Port where foreign goods can enter and be tran- shipped to other countries free of customs duties. 1 he ex- tent to which the Free Port has developed the transit trade 22