The table on p. 228 is an example of the journal of one of these craft, and will show instantly the kind of record which was kept.

On the 1st of January, 1817, the Preventive boats were put under the control of Captain Hanchett, R.N., who was known as the Controller-General of the Preventive Boat Service.  There was an effort made also in this department to obtain increased efficiency.  And the following articles were ordered to be supplied to each Preventive boat:—­one small flat cask to hold two gallons of fresh water, one small water-tight harness cask to hold provisions, one chest of arms and ammunition, one Custom House Jack, two “spying-glasses” (one for the watch-house, the other for the boat), one small bucket for baling, one “wall piece,” forty rounds of cartridges, thirty muskets or carbines, preference being given to carbines with musket-ball bore where new ones are to be purchased, twenty light pistols, balls in proportion to the above, bayonets, cutlasses, pouches, tucks, small hand hatchets for cutting away rigging, musket flints, pistol flints, a set of implements for cleaning arms, a set of rummaging tools, and a dark “lanthorn.”  With this full inventory these open, oared boats could go about their work for long spells in bays, up creeks and estuaries, on the prowl for the smugglers by night.

JOURNAL OF HIS MAJESTY’S REVENUE CRUISER THE “VIGILANT,” JOHN SMITH, COMMANDER, FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 18—­

-------+------+--------+------+--------------------+---

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|      |        |      |  Observation made. |         |
Day of |      |        |      +----------+---------+         |
the  |      |        |      |          |Bearings |         |
Week  |      |        |At Sea|          |  and    |Soundings|Occurrences
and  |      |        | or in|  Land    |Distances|   in    |    and
Month | Wind.|Weather.| Port.|  Seen.   |in Miles | Fathoms |  Remarks.
-------+------+--------+------+----------+---------+--------

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July   |E.S.E.|Moderate|At sea|Red Head  |W.N.W.   |Above 30 |Cruising in
Monday |      |        |      |          |9 miles  |         |station spoke
1st.,  |      |        |      |          |         |         |a vessel from
Morning|      |        |      |          |         |         |the Baltic
or   |      |        |      |          |         |         |laden with
first  |      |        |      |          |         |         |hemp, &c., but
part   |      |        |      |Light,    |S.W. by  |         |sea running
|      |        |      |Bell Rock |S. 12    |         |high, did not
|      |        |      |          |miles    |         |board her.  Saw
|      |        |      |          |         |         |H.M. sloop
|      |        |      |          |         |         |_Cherokee_ to
|      |        |      |          |         |         |the N.E. at
|      |        |      |          |         |         |9 A.M.
-------+------+--------+------+----------+---------+--------

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