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reports for the first two Quarters partly on the ground of the paucity and comparative insignificance of the Piracies reported and partly because there was much confusion in the mode in which the returns were kept - some being transmitted from the Harbour Master's Office - and others from the Police Department, whilst others were not communicated at first by the Senior Naval Officer.
I have however introduced a better arrangement, though it is not yet perfect, and have directed that one Department alone, that of the Police, shall be the medium of reporting to me the several cases of Piracy - and that they be numbered with consecutive numbers for the year, and referred to only by such numbers in all communications connected with them, whether by the Police, this Government or by the Senior Naval Officer.
The inclosed Reports however do not fully accord with this arrangement, as they begin from the 27th May last.
4. The Senior Naval Officer also now receives a duplicate of each Report at the same time, so that the serious delays formerly occurring in matters, where sometimes consequence was involved, have been avoided.