29

     11. As regards Class B vessels, which were to be inspected by qualified
medical officers in the pay of the owners of the vessels, the Collector of Customs
reported on 9th February that no such officers were available, and accordingly
Government Resolution No. 945-399-P. sanctioned the engagement by him of two
qualified medical. men and a lady doctor for this class of vessel.
     12. For vessels of Class C the entertainment of three additional Customs
Officers, one on Rs. 100 per mensem  and two on Rs. 75 per mensem, had been
sanctioned in Government Resolution dated February 4th.      The Collector re-
ported on February 5th that the Bandar staff would also require strengthening,
and a sum of Rs. 200 per mensem was placed at his disposal for the engagement
of the extra staff.  The examination of Class A vessels began     on February
4th. All vessels were thoroughly inspected from February 16th. Surgeon-Major
Crimmin, V.C., was appointed an additional Health Officer for the Port of
Bombay on the 15th February.
                                      Aden.
     13. In addition to the rules issued on October 13th for the protection of
Aden against Bombay, similar rules were put in force on December 30th against
Karachi, as plague had become epidemic there.
     14.  On January 24th the Political Agent at Aden suggested that Govern-
ment should take into consideration the necessity for more stringent rules against
Bombay. He pointed out that vessels which carried a medical officer on board
were under the existing rules admitted to free pratique if no cases of plague had
occurred on board, and all their passengers were allowed to land without quarantine.
From the fact that on the occurrence of a case of plague, quarantine for fifteen
days was imposed, it followed that the journey from Bombay, which sometimes
occupies only four or five days, afforded no guarantee that the persons who landed
at Aden in an apparently healthy condition might not have the seeds of infection
in them undeveloped.
     15.  The Government of Bombay had previously given consideration to the
question of the adequacy of the Aden quarantine rules and on receipt of the
abovementioned letter from the Resident immediately resolved on recommending
that quarantine should be imposed on persons landing at Aden up to ten days
from the date of departure of their vessels from Bombay and Karáchi, even if no
case of plague had occurred on the voyage.   This proposal was telegraphed to
the Government of India on January 31st, and their sanction was received on
February 2nd. On the following day the requisite notification was published
in the Government Gazette and instructions to the Resident at Aden were issued
by telegram.
                                     Karáchi.
     16.  The quarantine imposed against Bombay at this port by the notifica-
tion of October 13th was modified on February 3rd, when the following rules
were substituted:
     "No. 592.-In exercise of the power conferred by Act I of 1870, the following rules for
quarantine against plague, in modification of those issued in Government Notification No. 4530,
dated 13th October 1896, have been made by the Government of Bombay, with the previous
sanction of the Governor General in Council: they have effect from to-day in the Port of
Karáchi as a temporary measure:
     I.-The Commander of every vessel, including buggalows or other native craft, arriving
         at Karáchi from Bombay shall, before entering the harbour, hoist a yellow flag (or if
         entering a port at night time, show whatever quarantine light signals are customary
         in the port) and indicate by signal the port from which such vessel has come, and shall
         keep such flag and signals flying until permitted to take them down as hereinafter
         provided. The pilot on going alongside a vessel from Bombay shall direct the flag
         prescribed above to be hoisted, if it has not already been done.
     II.--Such Commander shall not, without first having obtained permission as hereinafter
         provided, allow any communication, except orally, with the shore or any other vessel
         or boat, excepting with the boat supplying pilots, and in that case communication shall
         be limited to receiving on board the pilot, his servant, and baggage.
     III.-On any such arrival being such signalled, the Health Officer of the Port shall, as
         soon as possible, go alongside the vessel and ascertain by enquiry from the Commander
         and by careful individual medical examination of passengers and crew whether any
         person on board is suffering, or has during the voyage suffered, from plague, or any
    1135-8