Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 100

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from three to six and the armament consists of a musket for each man. The boats are from 25 to 60 piculs. In 1877 or 1878 I boarded a large junk, about 6,000 piculs, and found a chest of Benares on board her, which the Captain told me he was not going to pay any duty on to the Chinese Customs. I charged him for furnishing untrue particulars, and he was discharged by the Marine Magistrate, as Ordinance 8 of 1866 was held not to apply to his case. I should say that this smuggling in small boats is carried on every night, at any rate every dark night. The shops in Sháukiwán with whom the people from the Customs Station at Fatt'auchau deal, have given information as to smuggling, but I never knew of any result arising from the information. I have never seen engagements between smugglers and Revenue Cruisers, and if such do occur, they must be infrequent, or otherwise I should have heard of them. These small boats keep near the shore; and generally have a large junk waiting for them either in Chinese or British waters, according to the tides. These big junks clear from Hongkong, and are passed by the Chinese Customs, and then wait in the dark for the small boat, which delivers whatever goods are being smuggled. Saltpetre is smuggled in a more daring manner than opium. They try to pass it under the name of white sugar. The boats it is smuggled in vary from 100 to 500 piculs. The crew varies from 7 to 20; the armament is generally a musket for each man. I have known these junks to be provided with fighting nets, and shields, and the crew severally well supplied with powder, shot, and caps, in bags containing 14 or 15 rounds. I have only known of two such cases. One of these boats was punished for leaving the harbour during prohibited hours, and the junk and cargo were forfeited; the other was fined $50 for furnishing untrue particulars of the cargo. This was on the 5th December, 1882.

In 1882 I boarded a junk at Stanley and found 100 piculs of saltpetre, 27 muskets over the allowance, 94 bayonets, and 3,000 percussion caps. These were hidden in various parts of the junk. The Captain and crew were charged, and the Captain was fined $50. I have never seen any naval fights in British waters, but have often heard of fights taking place in Chinese waters. I have known boats come both to Shaukiwán and Stanley with cargoes of salt from Chinese territory, which is sold to the outlying villages in this Colony. I have never known of any fights between salt junks. In the month of November of last year it was reported to me that a large quantity of opium had been carried by 21 coolies with two baskets each from Victoria to Táit'ámtuk, but was finally taken back again to Hongkong, as the smugglers were watched.

The above statement taken by the Secretary is read over to Inspector SWANSTON, and declared to be correct.

TO THE COMMISSION.

See post

With reference to the case of the 200 balls it was an attempt to swindle the owner, and it was he who said it was going to be smuggled. I made a report on smuggling pages 87-98. to the Captain Superintendent of Police in 1881.

The accompanying statement, taken by the Secretary, is read over to Acting Inspector STAUNTON before the Commission and declared by him to be correct.

WM. STAUNTON, Acting Inspector at Aberdeen, states:—I have been in the Police Force for almost ten years, and have had a year and half's experience at Harbour Sta- tions. The smuggling of opium from Aberdeen is very small, and it is almost impos- sible to learn when smuggling does go on, as it is carried on so quietly. The junks