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(Copy.)
Statement by a Chinese-name not published.
I have had the shop over 20 years. The two Permits to fishermen which I produce were obtained by my shop early this year. They were got from the Yan-wo T'ong, No. 167, Praya West. A man called Cheng is the master. It was established this year. It is a Salt Farm. Fishermen belonging to Hongkong must get such Permits before they can salt fish. Each Permit costs 1 tael 9m. 8 car. = $2.75. The Permit holds good for a year and it costs the same sum at whatever period of the year it is issued. The Yan-wo T'ong has 2 cruisers. They are not steamers. They give notice to the fishermen that they must get permits. Formerly they were issued at Nam T'au by the Pang Shing Farm. The Yan-wo Tong is a branch of the Farm. The branch was formerly at Cheung Chan,* but it is now removed to Hongkong.
The Salt Commissioner of the two Kwang superintends the whole Salt Revenue, but he farms it out to a farmer. This practice of issuing Permits has gone on for many years.
I have been 43 years in Hongkong and this practice has prevailed all this time. No fishing junks connected with the Colony can go beyond the limits of the Harbour to catch and salt fish without a permit. The catching of fresh fish is not interfered with. There are only 2 cruisers. Both are armed. One is large. The other is smaller. They sometimes anchor off the Parade Ground and sometimes off Yau-ma Ti. The lowest Permit is for 100 catties of Salt at any one time; but permits can be obtained for any quantity at a proportionately increased cost. Permits are sometimes issued for half a year, or for any short period, but generally they are issued for one year.
The Permits cost more this year. Last year, a Permit for 100 catties of Salt cost $2. This year it costs $2.75.
The Staff of the Yan Wo consists of 4 or 5 clerks. I have no idea of the amount of money they take
in a month.
25th April, 1883.
(Signed)
F. STEWART.
LI CHI-SHANG, Manager of the Yan-wo Tong, No. 167, Praya West.
My firm trades with Shanghai in mat-bags, sandal wood and sundries. It has been in Hongkong since the fourth moon of last year. The San On Salt Farmer is my friend. For the convenience of boats and to oblige the Farmer, I sometimes issue Permits, and collect the money, I do not know the Farmer's name. It is my friend Pün, living in Canton, who knows him; and it is through Mr. Pün that I do what I do, to oblige the Farmer. I believe the Farmer lives at Nám T'au. It may be that licences are, or were issued at Cheung Chau, I am not sure. I know licences are issued at Nám Tau. I know nothing of the two fishermen who presented a Petition about their fish. The fish was never stored in the Yan-wo T'ong. I do not know why fishing junks connected with Hongkong should pay taxes to Chinese Government. I am only acting as a friend.
1st May, 1883.
(Signed) F. STEWART.
Statement of a Chinese dealer-name not published.
The master of the Yan-wo Tong is Chêng Tsun-téng. He left the Yan-wo T'ong the day I was here (25th April). He is now living either in the U Wo Mat Shop, or the Û Tak Shing carpenter's Shop. No permits are being issued for the present, but I believe they will resume when they think this has blown over. The Yan-wo T'ong does no business except the issuing of Permits. About 20 have been obtained by my shop from the Yan-wo Tong since the Chinese New Year. My Shop used to get Permits for fishermen from Chéung-chau.
* Chéung Chau is the Chinese Revenue Station at the West entrance of the Harbour.