The smack Strawberry of Deal, on being searched, was found to have a false bottom, capable of containing a considerable quantity of goods.  This bottom was constructed by two leaden cases fixed on the timbers the whole length of the hold, one on each side of the keelson, and ceiled over with the usual ceiling, having the ballast placed over it.  The cases opened on each side of the hold by taking out a plank from the temporary ceiling.  In the case of the lugger Fox (as usual belonging to Rye), a vessel over 16 tons, John Souden, master, there were found to be double bottoms underneath the bed cabins, the entrance being made from underneath the cabins, and then unshipping a small piece of board about a foot square, each concealment being able to hold from fifty to sixty pieces of bandana silks.

Another smuggling device in vogue during this ingenious period had to be employed in such places as Ramsgate harbour, where it would have been utterly impossible to have employed ordinary methods.  It resembled very much the method employed at Dover, mentioned just now.  A rowing-boat would come into the harbour, apparently with nothing in her nor anything towing astern.  But there were fifteen or so half-ankers underneath her hull, spirits of course being contained in these casks.  Now the latter were all fastened to a long iron bar, the ropes to the boat being fastened to this bar.  Consequently, after the boat had reached her corner of Ramsgate harbour, all she had to do was to let go the ropes and the iron bar would keep the kegs on the sandy bottom and prevent them from disclosing their identity by floating.  At low water the smugglers could have gone to get them up again, for they would not move far even with the ebb tide.  Unfortunately, however, the Revenue Tide Surveyor at this port preceded the smugglers, and by creeping for the bar and tubs with grapnels succeeded in locating what he wanted.

On another occasion at one of the out-ports, or rather along the neighbouring beach, thirty-three gallons of spirits, contained in nineteen small casks, were recovered in a startling manner.  Going along the beach were noticed among the chalk rocks and stones of the neighbourhood some other objects.  These were the casks, but they had been so cleverly covered over with a cement of chalk, to which was fastened seaweed in the most natural manner, that seeing them there among the rocks of the shore they would never have been discovered by the Revenue men, had not it been (as one may guess) for a hint given by an informer.  Otherwise there they would have remained until the smugglers found it convenient to come and fetch them.

We called attention just now to the concealing of tobacco in rope.  This device evidently became a fine art, and had succeeded on many an occasion.  At any rate in Flushing tobacco was openly on sale in the shops ready for smuggling into England already made up into ropes.  You could get anything as big as a hawser and as small as a sail-tyer done up so ingeniously as to deceive almost any one.  In fact on washing these slightly with a little rum they had every appearance of hempen rope.