Many might ask—"Why is our State government so vitally interested
in marine activities?" The answer is a simple and a basic one. Mary-
land is a maritime state. Since its earliest history our people have looked
to the water for their livelihoods, and while the relationship between the
economic well-being of the Maryland public and the marine industry
is not so obvious today, I wish to point out a few underlying facts that
put the picture in perspective. International trade is definitely a growth
industry. With many natural resources of the United States becoming
depleted, we are looking more and more to foreign shores for raw mate-
rials required by our great industries. Through faster communications
and transportation, this globe is shrinking and the international aspects
of commerce are growing year by year. We must be prepared to share in
this growth.

The economic life of the State revolves around shipping, the maritime
industry generally, and the large industries located here because of our
access to the trade lanes of the world. Responsible studies have clearly
pointed out that:

1. The port is the principal attraction to major industries located in
this vicinity.

2. More than 125, 000 of the total of 197, 000 employees in the manu-
facturing industries in the Baltimore metropolitan area work in port-
linked manufacturing establishments. This is more than 63 per cent of
the total manufacturing force in Greater Baltimore.

3. The annual payroll of these employees is more than $456 million
or better than 65 per cent of the total manufacturing payroll of the area.

In addition to the port's importance to our industrial community,
there is the more direct economic impact flowing from the transpor-
tation of goods in and through this maritime port. We now handle
approximately 6, 000 ocean-going vessels annually at the Port of Baltimore.
Each of these ships leaves about $50, 000 in the community in the pay-
ment of crews' wages, purchase of supplies ranging from major machin-
ery items to foodstuffs, service charges and longshoremen's wages. These
ships keep some 12 ship repair yards busy. Overhaul and maintenance
work runs to thousands of dollars but the small fellow is in the picture
too. The butcher and baker as well as others sell their products and
services to the ships. Farm produce from the Eastern Shore and Western
Maryland goes to feed a ship population of 200, 000 seamen who man
these 6, 000 ships. These seamen purchase at local stores; they frequent
our places of entertainment—briefly, they spend their money here.

This giant transportation complex that we call the Port of Baltimore

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