HOW SMUGGLERS WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19792, 12 November 1927, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW SMUGGLERS WORK.

REVIVAL IN CORNWALL.

"THE SKIPPER'S LUGGAGE."

Inquiries along the jagged Cornwall coastline, from Mcvagissey Bay to Land's End, reveal the fact that during the past couple of years there has been a considerable revival of smuggling, says a correspondent of the Daily Chronicle. The word " revival " is used because in the good old days Cornwall was the home of smuggling, and even the eighteenthcentury fervour of Wesley and Whitfield failed to turn the adventurous, longshore Cornish Celt from the unholy calling which for generations had been the practice of his forebears. Heredity has doubtless played its part in the readiness to take advantage of the opportunities that the recent reduction in the number of preventive men has offered. " Coast watching in Cornwall has been reduced to little more than a farce," said a prominent Cornishman recently. The number of coast preventive men is now only a mere handful. They cannot be everywhere. No country round the English coastline is so difficult to guard. It has been calculated that there is no less than 300 miles of coast line between Plymouth Sound and Bude. " There are sheltered inlets that extend miles inland, as at Falmouth, and Fowey, and at the Lizard, where the Helford River, which had a famous reputation for smuggling a century ago, has recently again begun to establish a quiet reputation for ' free-trade ' exploits. " Most o! the smuggling done in Cornwall to-day is done, not by motor-boats from across the Channel, but by fishing craft and little coasting vessels. They put in close to the shore, ostensibly for supplies or to unload cargoes, or for shelter and anchorage. The contraband is brought ashore at night by small boats.

"There is not much silk smuggling in Cornwall. What comes ashore is mostly cognac and tobacco and cigars. Hardly any is sent away. There are cases in which it finds its way to the local inns. Smuggling is sometimes carried out under the very eyes of the authorities, but with such audacity that they are thrown completely off their guard. Here is an incident of which the writer was an «yewitness.

, " A small.coasting vessel, that had put in to a small port at Penzance, ' was boarded by a native. ' Can I pet. some brandy and cigars ashore?' asked the skipper. ' Oh. yes.' was the reply, 'what are they packed in V The skipper for answer produced a Glndstono bag. The went ashore. As they approached the quay a Customs officer was seen.

" The skipper looked anxiously at the native, who exclaimed, ' Yon Jeavo it to me.' As the boat reached the shingle the native sprang ashore, greeted the Customs officer geniallv, and asked him as a favour to give him n lift with the skipper's luggage. The preventive man innocently assisted in carrying the harm-less-looking hag to the local inn."