The returns of tonnage for 1804 are in the Register’s office, but not yet arranged. On 31 Decer. 1803, our tonnage was as follows. vizt.

						tons
1.	Registered tonnage employed in foreign trade					585,909
	Do. in whale fisheries			11,247
	Enrolled in do			1,142
	Whale fisheries			12,389
	In cod fisheries vizt.
	above 20 tons	42,773	}	50,969
	under 20 do	8,196
2.	Total in fisheries					63,358
3.	In coasting trade vizt.
	above 20 tons			237,787	}	267,787
	under do. do			30,000		________
		Total				917,054
		which at the rate of six				6
		seamen per 100 tons gives				55,023	seamen

But the returns derived from the payment of hospital money fall short of that amount: perhaps they cheat; perhaps the rate of six men for 100 tons is too much. We may however count safely on fifty thousand—Note that the above amount does not include the seamen then in our navy who might on 31 Decer. 1803 amount to one thousand—

With respectful attachment Your obedt. Sevt.