Answer:
The true statement about the state of Japan's merchant ship fleet during the Meiji Restoration is: "The fleet increased in size and became more modern." During the Meiji Restoration, Japan underwent a period of modernization and industrialization, and the government actively promoted the growth of Japan's merchant fleet as a means of boosting trade and expanding its economic power. The government encouraged the construction of new and modern ships, and the fleet grew in size and became more advanced, which helped to support Japan's expanding economy.