Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 183

SIR,

( 94 )

CENTRAL STATION,

14th November, 1879.

I have the honour to inform you that the grounds on which I expressed my opinion that one of the junks was seized in British waters, are that when passing Stanley they were in British waters and going in the direction of Aplichau Island with one junk in custody I lost sight of them at the place marked A (in the accompanying Map) * and again I saw them near B, the Cruiser having both junks in

tow.

About 45 minutes elapsed from the time they were lost sight of at A until I saw them at B; and taking the usual rate of sailing of a junk of the class to which they both belong, I think it hardly possible that they could have reached B from A in the interval during which I lost sight of them by other than a direct course, which would of necessity have been continuous in British waters.

I have the honour to be,

W. M. DEANE, Esq.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

A. MACKIE,

Inspector.

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT,

SIR,

19th November, 1879. ́

In compliance with your instructions, I proceeded to Stanley for the purpose of enquiring into the alleged capture of two junks by a Chinese Revenue Cruiser.

tion.

On arriving at Stanley I communicated with Inspector MACKIE who gave me the following informa-

On the morning of the 13th, at about half past six, he noticed a Chinese Revenue Cruiser steaming across the mouth of Stanley Bay with a junk in tow, he at once ordered his boat and pulled out to a point just inside the West horn of Stanley Bay, where he landed and ascended the hill for the purpose of watch- ing the movements of the Cruiser; by the time he got sight of her she was off Aplichau and had two junks in tow.

After obtaining this information from Inspector MACKIE (who was accompanied by a Chinese Interpreter and a fisherman named Lo A-SAM) I got the launch under way and directed Mr. MACKIE to place her in the position (as near as he could judge) where he first saw the Cruiser. I have marked the position,

thus pointed out, on the accompanying tracing 4.

I then steamed the launch to the second position, off Aplichau, which I have marked B.

During the time the launch was steaming between the two positions marked A and B I examined Lo A-SAM, who made the following statement :-

“I am a fisherman residing at Wongmakòk, on the morning of the 13th, about six o'clock, I was on the hill near Wongmakòk attending to my nets, when I saw a steamer towing a junk proceeding "to the Westward, she passed about three li off Wongmakòk; I saw a junk under sail ahead of the steamer, and I saw the steamer take this junk in tow at the position pointed out by me (marked C.) "I could not see if the junk had a number on her bow. I cannot identify either the steamer or the "junks; the steamer's funnel was painted black and so was her hull.”

"L

I questioned Inspector MACKIE as to his reasons for supposing the junks had been seized by the steamer, and he said he concluded they must have been seized as they were being towed by her; but that for anything he knew to the contrary, the steamer might have been assisting the junks on their voyage, but he did not think so.

* Not published.