Then there was also the danger of collusive smuggling.  For instance, when a smuggler had been frustrated from successfully landing a cargo of spirits from a small foreign vessel or boat he might go and give information to a Custom officer so that he might have the goods seized by the latter, the arrangement being that the smuggler should be paid a fair portion of the reward which the officer should receive for the seizure.  Inasmuch as the officers’ rewards were by no means inconsiderable this method might fully indemnify the smuggler against any loss.

Just before Christmas of 1819 the Custom officers at Weymouth seized on board a vessel named The Three Brothers sixteen half-ankers and seven small kegs or flaggons of foreign spirits.  These were found to be concealed under a platform of about nine feet in length fitted on either side of the keelson, and of sufficient height for one cask.  Its breadth was such as to allow of two casks and a flaggon.  When full this secret hiding-place would contain about thirty casks in all.  The whole concealment was covered with stone and iron ballast.  The platform was fitted with false bulkheads and filled up with large stones so as to avoid suspicion, the entrance to which was made (after removal of the ballast) from the bottom of the forecastle through two bulkheads about two feet apart.

Another instance was that of a consignment of four cases which had come over from France.  These cases contained plaster figures and appeared to be hollow.  However, the Custom officers had their suspicions and decided to perforate the plaster at the bottom with an auger.  After making still larger holes there were extracted from inside the following amazing list of articles:—­Two clock movements, six pieces of bronze, thirty-two pieces of porcelain, and two small paintings.

A certain other French craft was boarded by the Revenue officers who, on measuring her range of deck and also under it including the bulkheads, found a greater difference than the rake would fairly account for.  They were naturally highly suspicious and proceeded to take down part of the bulkhead aft, when they discovered that this bulkhead was not single but double, being between the cabin and the hold.  This bulkhead was made of solid oak planking and was 2 feet 10 inches thick.  It was securely nailed, and the cavity thus made extended from one side of the hull to the other, giving a breadth of 7 feet 2 inches, its length being about 2 feet 2 inches, and the height 3 feet 6 inches.  It will thus be readily imagined that a good quantity of spirits, wine, and plums from France could easily therein be contained and brought ashore when opportunity presented itself.