the number of people using Government ferries in May.

Statistics released by Government yesterday indicated that passenger levels dropped 23 percent across all ferry routes, down from 76,875 in 1996 to 58,741 for this year.

The Paget/Warwick ferry took the heaviest hit, down 11,354 riders from last year for a 33 percent decline.

Ridership was down 16 percent on the Somerset route, translating into 6,780 fewer people using the Dockyard link. Meanwhile in its first month of operation, the summer Dockyard-St. George's ferry carried 2,413 passengers.

Director of Marine and Ports Ron Ross said yesterday that the declines were due to the rainy May weather.