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During the past 4 years, the fines imposed, and the "transactions" concluded with the Douanes, for account of British and German vessels amounted to $60,000 cash paid.
The situation has become so vexatious and costly that the steamers' agents and owners at Hongkong latterly petitioned the Chamber of Commerce there, which institution in its turn petitioned the Governor of Hongkong to demand of the Governor of Indo-China some amelioration.
The Governor of Hongkong in his turn has asked me to lay the matter before the Governor General; and I am now engaged in drawing up a memorial to present to that official on his return to Saigon from Tonkin, and his wildcat railway schemes.
The petitioners know of course that smuggling exists and that it should be suppressed, but they complain that the wrong persons are punished; and they more than insinuate that fraudulent means are used also that no one hears of seizures on board the French Mail, although there is hardly a doubt that more real smuggling is carried on through these steamers than by all others combined.
The informer receives one quarter of the fines, and it is evident that such an excessive reward is a strong temptation to arrange false smuggling.
I will state a recent and ordinary case: a steamer is sent here by her owners in perfect good faith, without the slightest intention or desire of contravening any regulation of the port; she is allowed to go on quietly with her loading until the eve of departure (the customs knowing all the while that the opium is on board); suddenly three or four customs officers appear on board (not the informer, there is no fear of that), and, after a semblance of a search, which is evidently but a farce, these agents proceed directly to the place where the opium is "hidden".