The organized bands of rats" are irected by Chinese who have waxed rich since the Sino-Japanese hostili-lies, While their hirelings keep a vigil along the waterfront and board vessels prior to their departure and upon their arrival in. port, they establish the necessary contacts with consignees of cargo and shipowners, levying a toll for every ton of cargo Imported or shipped from Shanghai.
"The leaders of the bands are noted for their lavish spending and are fed frequenters of gambling and opium dens where the proceeds of their racketerring are dissipated with a surprising speed. Some of the more jparsimonius of the leaders have ae-quired Interests in night clubs and commercial enterprises in the city. share of the profits for certain shipments.
Foreign owned vessels ard coasters fying a foreign flag escape moles tation which the "rats" confine to Chinese, but the compradores of for-ign boats allow the "rats" to travel fon the boats without paying passage. Any ousting of the undesirables from the ship would be accompanied by the usual dire consequences; the smashing of port windows and furniture on board and other acts of destruction.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.