The Victoria Channel (300 feet wide) was cut about 1840, and improved in 1882, to accommo date large vessels. New docks have been con structed, giving a total harbor area of over 100 acres. The Alexandra Dock is 852 feet long, and the new graving docic, constructed 1903 10, at a cost of $1,750,000, is the largest in the world. The most important branch of traffic by sea is across the channel. A large fleet of steatners ply regularly between Belfast' and London, via Heysham, Plymouth, Bristol, Liv erpool, Holyhead, Fleetwood, Barrow, White haven, Ardrossan, Glasgow, Dublin, Water ford, etc. There is also an extensive direct trade with British North America, the Medi terranean, France, Belgium, Holland and the Baltic. In 1786 only 772 vessels (34,287 tons) entered the port; whereas in 1915 the net ton nage of the 9,037 vessels that used the port was 3,288,600. The exports to the United States alone in 1916 amotmted to $19,587,133. 'The chief exports are linen, whisky, aErated waters, iron ore and cattle; the chief imports grain, cotton, flax, linen yam, iron, steel, coal, timber, etc. In 1916 over 2,639, 000 tons of goods were brought in and 674,000 tons went out. The customs duties amount to over $15,400,000 per annum, exclu sive of what passes through the Inland Reve nue Department. Much of the inland trade is carried on by the Lagan Navigation, which con nects the town with Lough Neagh; the Ulster Canal, connecting Lough Neagh with Ennis killen; and by systems of railway, namely, the Great Northern, the Belf-ast and County Down.
History and Administration.— Belfast is comparatively modern. In the 16th century it was merely a fishing village with a fortress; in 1613 it was granted a charter by James I, and about 1637 it obtained the privilege of levying certain duties on goods and became a regular seaport; but its prosperity subsequently was much impeded by the civil war. Early in
the 18th century it was described as a hand some, thriving town, but its period of modern prosperity dates from the introduction of the cotton manufacture in 1777, the establishment of ship-building on a large scale in 1791 and the introduction of machinery in the linen in dustry in 1830. In 1888 Belfast became a city; in 1892 the mayor received the title of lord mayor, and in 1896 the city boundaries were extended, the wards were increased from five to 15, and the municipal corporation was made to consist of 15 aldermen instead of 10 and of 45 councillors instead of 30. In 1899 it became a county borough. Belfast has frequently been the scene of riots between the Protestant and Roman Catholic population, the latter of whom are largely outnumbered. The harbor is under the management of an independent board. The city maintains the elementary schools, working men's dwellings, libraries, museums and fire department, and owns the gas and electric-light plants, abattoirs and tramways. Belfast returns four members to Parliament. Ari American consul is resident here. Total area 16,594 acres. Pop. (1901) 349,180; (1911) 386,947. Consult Benn, G., (History of Belfast) (Belfast 1877) ; Fisher, (Trading Centres of the Em pire: Belfast) (London 1901) ; Young, R. M., (Historical Notices of Old Belfast) (Belfast 1896.