THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS 51 



shops of the worst possible description, uncon- 

 trolled or unregulated by any superior power or 

 force whatsoever." An exhaustive inquiry was 

 made in 1 8 8 1 , and much evidence was obtained 

 showing the " nefarious nature of the trade carried 

 on by these ' bum-boats,' and the dreadful evils 

 therefrom resulting, evils which not only include 

 theft, gross breaches of trust, assaults, robbery, 

 obscenity, and smuggling, but even in a few cases 

 resulting in violent deaths." ^ Fishermen sold 

 their catches, gear, and sails for the goods supplied 

 by these boats, and there was a direct inducement 

 to trade with them, for tobacco could be obtained 

 from them at a low cost, being free of duty. 

 The question of the abolition or regulation of the 

 traffic came up for discussion at the Conference 

 held at the Hague in 1881, which resulted in the 

 North Sea Convention, but no settlement was 

 arrived at ; and it is almost incredible that the 

 regulation of the " coopers " was objected to as an 

 interference with trade. A further inquiry was 

 made by a committee appointed by the Board of 

 Trade in 1883, and this body presented a report 

 in which the evils of the trade were again insisted 

 on, and interference was recommended as " im- 

 peratively necessary." In 1886 a final inquiry 

 was made by Rear-Admiral Gordon-Douglas and 

 Mr H. N. Malan, and the same conclusions 

 and recommendations resulted. 



1 Report by Mr W. H. Higgin, etc., p. 7. 



