“We direct you to convene the officers of the Waterguard belonging to your port,” write the Commissioners to the Collector and Controller at each station, “including the officers and crew of the cruiser stationed there, and strictly to enjoin them whether on board cruisers or boats in no instance to fire on any smuggling vessel or boat, either by night (whether it be dark or light), or by day, without first hoisting the colours and firing a gun as a signal, as directed by law, and to take care that on any boat being sent out armed either from the shore or from a cruiser, in pursuit of seizures or any other purpose, such boat be furnished with a proper flag.”  Two years later, on April 11, 1809, it was decided that cruisers could legally wear a pendant “conformable to the King’s Proclamation of the 1st January 1801,” when requiring a vessel that was liable to seizure or examination to heave-to, or when chasing such a vessel, but “at no other time.”  It is important to bear in mind that the flags of chase were special emblems, and quite different from the ceremonial flags borne on the Customs buildings, hulks, and vessels not used actually in the chasing of smugglers.

In addition to my own independent research on this subject I am indebted for being allowed to make use of some MS. notes on this interesting subject collected by Mr. Atton, Librarian of the Custom House; and in spite of the unfortunate gaps which exist in the historical chain, the following is the only possible attempt at a connected story of the Custom House flag’s evolution.  We have already explained that from the year 1674 to 1815 the Revenue Preventive work was under a mixed control.  We have also seen that in the year 1730 the Board of Customs called attention to the Proclamation of December 18, 1702, that no ships were to wear a pendant except those of the Royal Navy, but that the sloops employed in the several public offices might wear Jacks with the seal of the respective office.

From a report made by the Harwich Customs in 1726 it is clear that the King’s colours were at that date hoisted when a Revenue cruiser chased a suspect.  But as to what the “King’s Colours” were no one to-day knows.  Among the regulations issued to the Revenue cruisers in 1816 the commanders were informed that they were not to wear the colours used in the Royal Navy, but to wear the same pendants and ensigns as were provided by the Revenue Board.  By 24 George III. cap. 47, certain signals of chase were prescribed.  Thus, if the cruiser were a Naval vessel she was to hoist “the proper pendant and ensign of H.M. ships.”  If a Custom House vessel she was to hoist a blue Customs ensign and pendant “with the marks now used.”  If an Excise vessel, a blue ensign and pendant “with the marks now used.”  After this had been done, and a gun fired (shotted or unshotted) as a warning signal, she might fire if the smuggler failed to heave-to.  And this regulation is by the Customs Consolidation Act of 1876 still in force, and might to-day be made use of in the case of an obstinate North Sea cooper.  What one would like to know is what were the marks in use from 1784 to 1815.  Mr. Atton believes that these marks were as follows:—­