Circular to the various ship owners and Agents of vessels. I am glad to say that the purport of the Circular have been readily complied with by gentlemen asked for the various information concerned, and the information has reached me regularly.
It has, however, been suggested to me by a gentleman who has had much experience in shipping matters and dealings with Custom Houses that an additional check might be obtained by a practical method, viz.: by making it compulsory on all Shipping Agents to refuse countersigning any Bill of Lading for Opium unless such Bill of Lading bears the stamp of this Office, and to refuse signing shipping Orders for the drug unless on presentation of a permit by this Office for its export.
In cases where Opium has to be shipped or delivered when this Office is closed, the Agents will forward the shipping orders as soon as the Office is opened.
Copy of the Circular to be issued is annexed (13.).
With His Excellency's permission, therefore, I purpose issuing a Circular to the various shipping Firms in terms of the annexed draft; and I have no doubt that the request, as in the previous case, will at once be complied with. The gentleman who has kindly hinted this course to me assures me it will meet with no opposition from the mercantile community.
The account of Opium in the Colony during the month of June follows:
Malwa Patna Benares Persian Turkish Total Chest Chest Chest Chest Chest Chests Stock on hand 4532 1202 632 928 127 3342 4744 36 2 Imported during the month 1380 TM 2 2140 1095 1292 1833 24 3342 1727 1057 85 127 808 632 Exported during the month 1101 2126 8 672 396 23 3480 23 732 2074 1035 661 5 104 460 6 2 2 80 $ 68 Quantity boiled by Licensees Balance on the evening of the 30th June 732 1994 1027 661 104 451 82 8