Morning journal and courier., 1891-04-02
Opium and Chinamen Carried Across
 the Line by Slippery Shippers.
Tonl tle west SuoV'

The movement on foot at Washington to secure for the revenue service on Puget sound two small and swift steam cutters for the purpose of putting an end to the smuggling from British Columbia of Chi nese and opium, now carried on extensive ly and successfully, is one that has the hearty appreciation of every resident of this section; not that they care much about the opium feature of the business. for they look upon that as a matter concerning on ly the revenue officers and the nmuggle.s. To the community at large the smuggling of opium is matter of Indifference. It has no effect upon the use of the dung for purposes of debauchery, against which stringent laws. but i'll enforced exist in every statv, and tE, Iu.sii,';- uf whether the Government ShUll or shat! not d. rive small revenue from ih, Importation nf the damu9ble stutfs cIts4t- aIIy interest Nshat
 ever. ln thu subject a! smuggling China men, however, '.;ir ;'-sL':r have 3 dir~rt in
 terest, nni so much in it- ;uaI3i aspect in tllt harmful r,->Ui;-.
 Il is impossible tU s.y .lU a: ulaIaV J3.'Ha rner, succeed iii crussi,:. the boundary line C6iis.tlt sttsE't ftst'l -tteiaIg. IiAtlI identity in the common IIonotony uf some Chinese colony. IL Is certain that hun dreds crossed il frnu Mexico, until last year the excessive vigilance of the officers, which resulted in the capture of q large i number and the heading off of many more, | as well us in. ;Ihnspitabr nature "f the l desert country over which they had tO pass, and where the bones Of more than | one now lie bleaching in tfe sE:.. practical | m \ ! The Canadian border is the one now offer l ing the easiest openings for ;he guileless | Mongolian. On PHget sound this illegiti- mate business has become a science
 Chinamen are compelled to pay head
 tax of $50 to land in British Columbia. and
 they cheerfully pay this in order to secure | foothold from which they may gain the | coveted entrance to the United States to se- ! cure which they would pay many times | that amount if they could come direct. By | this arrangement Canada gets the money
 and we get the Chinamen. Although a
 few manage to cross the line on foot and
 safely reach the sheltering domiciles of
 their countrymen, the great majority come
 by water. The numerous islands in Puget
 sound at the head of the Straits of Fuca,
 lying on both sides of the suppOsititious l line separating the two countries, offer
 special facilities for the operations of snug
 glers, who, using small sailing vessels and
 taking advantage of dark nights and theiI
 knowledge of the movements of the reve
 nue officers, have little difficulty in cross
 ing the line with cargoes of opium and it:
 smokers, landing both in the hidden re
 cesses of some American Chinatown. Tn,
 vessels engaged in this business are osten
 sibly fishing boats, from two to ten ton.
 bu1then, and are so registered at Victoria
 the seat of operations. They frequentl!
 change their appearance by painting ana
 making other external alternatiOns. ana
 occasionally adopt new name and nev
 registered owner. all for the purpose O confusing their identity in the minds O the revenue officers on both sides of tn . revenue officers on both sides of the line who keep bright lookout for them, tn officers on the Canadian side feeling tha t these slippery shippers are as willing t , bring contraband goods back with them 8
 to take them away, being neither respect , CTS of persons nor Governments.
 t At the entrance to Victoria hsrbor is @ buoy off the Indian reserve, and this - where the smuggling vessels lie at anchor
 presenting the most innocent aspect imag :. nable When the financial arrangement