Commercial Statistics. Water-Borne Commerce of the United States

The Commercial Statistics of the Water-Borne Commerce of the United States were produced annually by the United States Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, an agency operating under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These volumes were commissioned to provide a comprehensive, systematic accounting of the nation's maritime trade, intended to support federal decisions regarding the maintenance and expansion of ports, harbors, and inland waterways during a period of significant industrial growth.

The design of these reports prioritized technical clarity and statistical utility over aesthetic flair. As official government publications, they relied on data collected from commercial vessels and port authorities to document the tonnage and value of goods moving through domestic transit points. While intended for policy makers and engineers, the series is now recognized as a critical primary source for economic historians studying the infrastructure and logistical networks that defined the early-to-mid 20th-century American economy.