Isaac F. Shepard to Angell, November 3, 1880

Mr. Shepard to Mr. Angell.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your Nos. 3 and 4. Referring to the latter I respectfully submit the following:

First. In answer to your first query, experience and conference with the custom-house officials lead me to reply that all foreign vessels, of whatever nationality, are required to enter at the foreign customs, and also all vessels of foreign type owned by the Chinese (i. e. the steamers of the “China Merchants’ Steam Navigation Company”), and the tonnage dues exacted are on precisely the same scale and terms for all.

I suppose this answers the question you wish to solve, but I think it proper to explain that altogether another system is applied to native craft proper, engaged in purely native trade. These do not enter the foreign but native customs, and pay what we call “port dues” and “boat tax.” Exactly what these dues are it is difficult to learn, on account of the reticence of the native officials in such matters, but they most undoubtedly give an advantage to the native over foreign vessels in local trade. I have endeavored, before answering you, to get definite information on the topic but unsuccessfully.

Second and third. The answer to both your second and third queries with the postscript is: “None whatever.”

I am, &c.,