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57
2,4
February, but all these were from the stocks brought in-
to the Chi tung Area previously.
Owing to the complete eradication of the wholesale
smuggling, the original preventive measures adopted by
the Customs in Tientsin itself, such as the barriers at
the railway stations and other places around the city for
preventing distribution of smuggled goods into the
interior, which were closed at the outbreak of the
hostilities and not able to be reopened on account of the
existing political conditions, automatically lost their
importance and their reinstitution became unnecessary.
Strenuous efforts were however made for the restoration
of the sea patrols in order to keep a watch on the
situation and to forestall possible revival of organised
smuggling. As a result, the C.P.L. Yukuang was recommissioned
in April 1938, with the understanding of the Japanese
Naval Authorities, and sent to Chinwangtao to do patrol
work along the coast within that district, and in July the
C.P.Ls. Chunshun and Tsinku were also put into active
service for carrying out patrols of the coast of Peit'ang
and Taku and of the Haiho River between Taku and Tentsin.
The outbreak of hostilities in July 1937 shattered
everything, and not only the preventive scheme but also
the control of steamers. From November 1937 Japanese
vessels began again to run between Japan, Dairen and
Tientsin. Unscrupulous merchants, taking the advantage of
the situation, had continuously brought in large quantities
of commodities as personal effects without payment of
duty. The withdrawal of the "special traders" had enabled
us to concentrate our energy on this subject. In November
1937 in order to enforce gradually the Customs control on
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