Thomas Jefferson Papers

Albert Gallatin to Thomas Jefferson, 3 November 1805

From Albert Gallatin

3 Nover. 1805

Dear Sir

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 917,0.54
which at the rate of six        6     
seamen pr 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. Sert.

Albert Gallatin

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 3 Nov. and “Seamen” and so recorded in SJL.

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