The number of ferry users in April stood at 45,951, compared to 59,374 in the same month last year. This is a decline of 13,423.

Assistant HarbourMaster David C. Simmons blamed part of the problem on bad weather.

"Indications for the below average numbers are attributed to but not limited to the late arrivals of the weekly cruise ships, overall drop in visitor arrivals Islandwide and inclement weather during April.'' Numbers on the Paget-Warwick ferry fell by 3,604 -- or 14.5 percent -- from 24,907 to 21,303, according to Government figures.

And there were 9,783 fewer passengers on the Somerset ferry. Some 24,648 people used it in April, compared to 34,467 in the same month in 1996 -- a 28 percent drop.