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57

2,4

February, but all these were from the stocks brought in-

to the Chi tung Area previously.

Owing to the complete eradication of the wholesale

smuggling, the original preventive measures adopted by

the Customs in Tientsin itself, such as the barriers at

the railway stations and other places around the city for

preventing distribution of smuggled goods into the

interior, which were closed at the outbreak of the

hostilities and not able to be reopened on account of the

existing political conditions, automatically lost their

importance and their reinstitution became unnecessary.

Strenuous efforts were however made for the restoration

of the sea patrols in order to keep a watch on the

situation and to forestall possible revival of organised

smuggling. As a result, the C.P.L. Yukuang was recommissioned

in April 1938, with the understanding of the Japanese

Naval Authorities, and sent to Chinwangtao to do patrol

work along the coast within that district, and in July the

C.P.Ls. Chunshun and Tsinku were also put into active

service for carrying out patrols of the coast of Peit'ang

and Taku and of the Haiho River between Taku and Tentsin.

The outbreak of hostilities in July 1937 shattered

everything, and not only the preventive scheme but also

the control of steamers. From November 1937 Japanese

vessels began again to run between Japan, Dairen and

Tientsin. Unscrupulous merchants, taking the advantage of

the situation, had continuously brought in large quantities

of commodities as personal effects without payment of

duty. The withdrawal of the "special traders" had enabled

us to concentrate our energy on this subject. In November

1937 in order to enforce gradually the Customs control on

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/steamers

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