Customs Boats
apleet of Sun competent with piracy in Shave Le to deal Chura (Signed) Newry Keppel.
Ondoeuvre I in Chia aplic all Lotte, hv.3.
307
# PROCLAMATION BY THE VICEROY OF THE TWO KWANG PROVINCES, &c., &c.
A stringent prohibition against the carrying of cannon and arms by fishing boats, for the purpose of cutting off a source of piracy,
Whereas large numbers of the poorer classes inhabiting the Coast of Kwangtung are accustomed to the pursuit of fishing as a means of livelihood, among whom a portion have their dwellings upon the islands and rocks, whilst others make the vessels they sail in their home, it is a source of much satisfaction that subsistence should be obtained by such industry, when the individuals in question devote themselves in reality to gaining an honest livelihood; but it appears that this class of fishermen, who, when nothing intervenes, occupy themselves at sea with their nets, are habitually given to falling upon and plundering solitary trading vessels or vessels in distress when such happen to come in their way, and even to venture so far as to carry off and hold in durance both such vessels and their crews. The sufferers, being held in confinement, are unable to lay complaint before the local authorities, and the latter, whether in the Civil or the Military Service, having no information before them, have no means of ascertaining the whereabouts and affecting the apprehension of the offenders.
Chinese and Foreign Vessels have alike suffered to a great extent from injury of this description. On a recent occasion this subject has formed matter for consultation between the Viceroy and the British Admiral, Sir Henry Keppel, by whom it was observed that Chinese trading vessels, while habitually provided with an armament, both in some instances commit depredations themselves, and also are frequently plundered at sea by pirates, and thus become the means of furnishing pirates with arms and ammunition; in view of which fact he proposes that trading vessels should be prohibited from carrying an armament. To this the Viceroy replied that Trading Vessels which sail with cargoes representing a large amount of capital, cannot be forbidden to carry an armament without depriving their owners of the means of defence, and that the latter would by such a course be compelled to give up their business and retire from the pursuit of trade, The description of missile known as the stinkpot, however, being solely adapted as a weapon of attack in boarding vessels for piratical purposes, it is not required by trading vessels as a means of defence, and such vessels, with all other Craft of every description upon the Coast, must be prohibited from carrying this weapon. As regards fishing boats, these vessels are in fact prohibited by the law of China from carrying arms or ammunition, inasmuch as, having no cargo or valuable property on board, a fishing boat stands in no need of carrying cannon, arms, ammunition, or stinkpots by way of defensive armament, and it is highly proper, therefore, that such a practice be prohibited in conformity with the law, and in order to prevent such vessels from engaging in acts of Piracy at sea.
The British Admiral thoroughly coincided in this view, and undertook to co-operate in the search of fishing boats for the enforcement of such a prohibition. Orders being therefore issued to all district authorities exercising jurisdiction along the coast, and to the Divisional Commanders of