Hunting Slave Ships.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 127, 28 April 1884, Page 2

Hunting Slave Ships.

The Perth Enquirer of a recent date contains the following paragraph, which shows that the naval sport of hunting slave-ships is not yet extinct, and that it is a very profitable pastime indeed :— H.M. gun-boats Harrier and Undine, which are now lying" m FremauUe Harbour, have lately been engaged m assisting to suppress the slave trade m the Indian Ocean. Oi the two vessels the Undine has l>een the more successful, as the Hairier succeedod m capturing only two .slavers, -while the Undine made no less than five captures. Of . course the crew of the latter ship are jubilant, as they reap a considerable pecuniary benefit from the success they have achieved. -Each slave released from servitude is valued at £5 by the Lords of the Admiralty, and the calculated value of the wbolecargo is divided among the oflicers and erey of the suesuccessful vessel m certain carefullydetermined and well-known shares. To show how much an ordinary able seaman can make while engaged m the discharge of his duty, we will take the case of one of the A.B.s belonging to the Undine. For the lirst.capture his share amounted. to £6- life; for the second, £2 10s; the third, £8- the fourth, £53; while the fifth gave him £28 ss ; or the handsome total of L 93 16s, which is certainly* not a bad addition to bis regular pay. 'On the other hand, the two captures made by the Harrier gave its crew only £40 per able seaman. It is a noteworthy fact that each slaver that was taken was sailing nnder the Aiab flag.