(Copy)
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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 Tong, No. 107, 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 can. — $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 Tong 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 Chau, 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 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) P. 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 Nam Tau. It may be that licences are, or were issued at Cheung Chau, I am not sure. I know licences are issued at Nam Tau. I know nothing of the two fishermen who presented a Petition about their fish. The fish was never stored in the Yan-wo Tong. 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.
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The two fishermen from Shau-ki Wan who presented the Petition did not get back their fish lest it should form proof against the Yan-wo Tong, but they got $40 in money.
Lately I have heard that one of the cruisers took away a boat's nets, and a girl from another boat. They took also from a third boat about 21 piculs of salt. The salt was sold at Yau-ma Ti. I do not know the names of those three junks, but I will enquire and let you know. When the change was made from Cheung Chau to Hongkong, the Yan-wo Tong people went about among the Lans and gave information. Besides the master Cheng Tsun-teng there are three clerks. They have large quantities of Permit forms in boxes. These have been removed from the shop for the present. If you suspect my statements it will be very easy to get the master of a junk, say at Stanley or at Aberdeen, to get a Permit if you supply the money.
I have been informed that the Mandarin at Po-thu Chau has beaten some of the men on board those salt cruisers for robbing people.
[Asked how it came that no report has been made before, states], No one dares. Even I am afraid of getting into trouble, if it gets known that I am giving information.
1st May, 1883.
(Signed)
F. STEWART,
Lan, Salt Fish Street.
I have been in Hongkong 25 years, I know that Permits from the San On Salt Farmer have been issued in this Colony to fishing junks belonging to this Colony for the last ten years. Formerly, it was done very secretly. Permits were sent here from Cheung Chau, and the Agent occupied the upper floor of a house, changing his residence frequently to prevent detection. He sent men round to the Lans and junks to let people know where he was to be found. I know the Yan-wo Tong was established here at the end of last Chinese year. Several Permits have been obtained from it by my shop. I do not know the head man or any of his subordinates.
The sum paid for Permits varies with the size of the junk and the quantity of Salt used. They are dearer this year than they were formerly. One that cost $2 last year costs $2.75 this year. The reason given is, that the Farmer has to pay a higher sum than formerly to the Salt Commissioner. The Salt Farmer lives in Nam Tau. I do not know him. Permits are issued at Nam Tau, Cheung Chau, and Hongkong. There are two armed cruisers for the San On District. If they find a fishing junk without a licence they impose a fine of from $100 to $200, and confiscate the junk.
I heard about the two Shau-ki Wan fishermen who had their fish taken away by a cruiser. I do not know how the matter was settled. I have not heard of the taking away of a girl or of the taking away of a junk's nets:
(Asked how it comes that this issuing of Permits in Hongkong, to Hongkong licensed junks, has been going on so long without any complaint, states). The cruisers are so powerful that fishermen are afraid to complain, and are too glad to be let alone by paying the fee for the Permit.
The Cruisers frequent this Harbour.
(Signed)
F. STEWART.
Statement of a Chinese dealer—name not published.
The master of the Yan-wo Tong is Cheng Tsun-teng. He left the Yan-wo Tong the day I was here (25th April). He is now living either in the Wo Mat Shop, or the 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 Tong 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 Cheung-chau.
* Cheung Chau is the Chinese Revenue Station at the West entrance of the Harbour.
2nd May, 1883.
Inspector Cameron to Registrar General.
YAU-MA TI,
7th May, 1883.
(Copy.)
SIR,
I have the honour to inform you that on Saturday the 5th instant, I sent a man, named...