It was learned yesterday that the Japanese naval authorities will shortly release a few more of the river craft which they detained pending enquiries regarding their nationality.
Some of the boats which flew various foreign flags, were detained from six months to more than a year ago, as doubts were entertained that their foreign national status was bona fide.
It was announced at the time that vessels transferred by Chinese owners to foreigners by sale, prior to the outbreak of the China incident, would be regarded as having been legally transferred but not otherwise. The Japanese authorities were adamant in their refusal to recognize transfers made after the China hostilities started.
A number of vessels were detained and in some instances the Japanese authorities established that the owners in reality were Chinese and that the foreign nominal owners were acting as trustees.
The Boom Period After the outbreak of the China incident the number of boats flying the Italian, German, Portuguese and cther flags plying the China coast was legion. Shipping business was brisk for a while, with high freights prevailing, and there was a keen demand for coasters and dilapidated fishing boats which could be commissioned into the coastal service. Fantastic prices were paid for the small craft the dearth of which became more acute when a number of boats were requisitioned by various governments.
The shipping ban imposed by the Japanese naval authorities on navigation which came into operation from July 16, last, sounded a death knell to coastal shipping and a number of boats were soon lying idle. The charterers were the biggest losers, as many of the crew of the vessels went on receiving their pay while the boats were laid up in port.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.