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armed; they would not be allowed to leave the Harbour with more armament than the Ordinance allows. I should be sure to hear of it if there were any of these junks specially armed. They are continually boarded on entering the harbour, and after they have taken their papers. In fact they are frequently boarded, there being no fixed time for doing so. I have no records or papers which would tend to throw light on smuggling, as we do not interfere with these so-called smuggling boats.
On one occasion one of these salt smuggling junks collided with a fishing boat at anchor in the harbour of Yaumáti, and a serious fight resulted, many being wounded. The salt junk fired several shots at the fishermen on board their own junk.
67.-Will you state when, as far as you know, this salt smuggliug first commenced from Yaumáti?
A. The first I knew of it was in 1876, and I believe it did not exist before that time. In that year a large number of salt merchants started business in Yaumáti. They buy the salt from large junks that come from Shánmi, P'áichau, P'inghoi, Saipò, Kamsing, Kammún. These junks average from 300 to 800 or 900 piculs. They sell the salt to the smugglers, who take it to Tungkún, &c. The merchants also buy salt from foreign vessels. The amount of smuggled salt that leaves Yaumáti is roughly speaking about 6,000 piculs monthly.
68.—What kind of junks were they that engaged with the Pingchauhoi?
A.—I did not see the junks. I only had the statement given by the men.
69.-Is not the salt taken from Yaumáti and Kaulung largely used for curing the fish caught at sea?
A.-Considerable quantities are used for that purpose, but not nearly the whole quantity taken from Yaumáti.
70.--Does not the Commissioner of the Salt Gabelle exercise a zealous vigilance over
junks?
A. He does. I have known cases where fishing junks have been interfered with by the Chinese Customs for having salt in excess of the quantity allowed by the Chinese regulations.
71.-Do you recollect the Registrar General some time ago asking you to make inquiries with reference to a depôt called the Yanwotʻong, 167, Praya West?
A.-I do.
pages 72-73.
72.-In consequence of his instructions you procured a certain junk licence, which sees post you handed over to him?
A. Yes.
73.—That licence gave the privilege of carrying a certain quantity of salt to fishing junks that go to sea, to salt their fish, and come back to Hongkong again?
A. Yes.
74.-Was that licence obtained for a Hongkong licensed fishing junk?
A.-It was.
75.-Registered in Hongkong and anchoring in Hongkong-in fact a Hongkong
junk?
A. Yes.