The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 47

Harbour and River Police

Harbour and River Police.

A River Police is maintained at the Ports of Montreal and Quebec to maintain order among the shipping and repress crimping A tax of 3 cents per ton is imposed on all vessels arriving at these Ports for the maintenance of this force; vessels of 100 tons and under paying the tax once each year, and vessels over 100 tons twice. The Force at Quebec consists of a chief constable, who is also shipping master, a clerk and assistant, 3 steers-men, 6 coxswains and 36 constables, 2 engineers and 1 assistant engineer 668 persons were arrested by them last year, and the provisions of the Shipping Act were so strictly enforced that masters of ships state there is no port in England or elsewhere, where they or their crews are as well protected as in Quebec. The Force at Montreal consisted of an inspector, chief constable, 4 sergeants and 19 constables, who have comfortable quarters in the basement of the Harbour Commissioners new building. No arrests were made for crimping; 301 persons were arrested for other offences, besides the sailors taken into custody for drunkenness. The expenditure for this service during the year was—
At Quebec $21,482
At Montreal 13,524
Total $35,006
The receipts from dues wore—
Quebec $23,512
Montreal 5,086
Total $28,598

showing an excess of expenditure over receipts of $6,408. The preceding year the excess was $11,723