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One of the oldest forms of commodity transportation, waterborne commerce remains an important element in the transportation sector of the United States. In 1980, foreign and domestic commerce totaled 1,105.6 billion ton-miles on U.S. lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. Of these, 406.9 billion ton-miles were on the inland waterways, including 96.0 billion on the Great Lakes, 228.9 billion on the Mississippi River system, and 81.9 billion on the coastal waterways. Most of this traffic—94 percent—consisted of barges, the rest of boats and tankers. ¹