Board
of
Trade
E.L.
For eighteen months the Piratical Vessels in this neighbourhood have become so numerous that the trading junks have found it necessary to employ large and small foreign vessels at an enormous monthly expense to afford them convoy protection. Vide despatch No. 1 of 8th Jan'y last recently. However, these depredations have been chiefly directed against the small fishing boats belonging to this Port employed in the Yellow and Cuttle Fishery in the Chusan Archipelago during four months of the year, when they are caught in great abundance, as J.C. will readily tell from the fact of there being about 4,000 boats so employed, and the description of fish in question, after being dried, being the principal food of the poorer classes.
Page 93
On the morning of the 9th instant, a poor woman residing near the Consulate presented me with a petition setting forth the capture of her son by some pirates near Po-to (enclosure copy, No. 2) and imploring my assistance to obtain his restoration. This document was forwarded to the Tshontae, who expressed his sympathy and regret, but declared his inability to do anything in the matter, and solicited that I would use my influence with Captain Campbell of H.M. Ship Capri to induce him to visit the neighbouring Islands for the purpose of capturing or driving away the pirates, excusing himself from the non-employment of their own vessels in this service on the plea of the Admiral's ill-health.
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