The question came to your Merchant Marine Committee in the early part of this session. as it did last yetr. as to how the United States were to supply the seamen necessary to operate their vessels. now and in the future. At the time of the passage of the seamens act about 43 per cent of the seamen on American vessels were American citizens. Of this number 65.196 were American born and 29.965 were foreign born. In the four years which have elapsed since that act went into effect there has been a great change as to the number of American citizens who are native born that have gone to the seas. We have increased from 65.196 to 97.160 the number of seamen on American ships that are native born. We have decreased in the number of naturalized citizens from 29.900 to 24.600. It is interesting also to note that in 1914. prior to the breaking out of .the war in Europe. 47 per cent of the seamen on American ships were American citizens. -The following year it had dropped to 43 per cent. in 1916 it was 43 per cent. in 1917 it had dropped to 42 per cent. in 1918. to 41 per cent. Now. it has again gone back to the place it: was in 1914. namely. 47 per cent.
Keywords matched
foreign born naturalized