368  THE  CHINESE  EMPIRE
by  the  bank  pass  directly  under  the  control  of  the  Chinese
side  of  the  Customs,  the  Superintendent  and  not  the  Commissioner. ­
  Malpractice  by  the  bank  might  be  made  the
subject  of  representation,  but  for  effective  action  would
be  rather  a  diplomatic  than  an  executive  matter,  the  affair
of  the  Consul  concerned  than  of  the  Commissioner.
The  Coast  Service  for  preventive  duty  is  composed  of
6  revenue  steamers,  officered  by  a  special  Coast  Staff,  4
revenue  cruising  launches,  21  revenue  launches,  and  9
sailing-craft,  officered  by  men  detached  from  the  Revenue
Staff.  For  movement  from  one  district  to  another,  and  f° r
general  control,  they  are  under  the  orders  of  the  Inspector
General  ;  for  personnel  and  matériel  they  are  under  the
Coast  Inspector  ;  and  for  control,  discipline,  supplia
and  work  they  are  directly  subject  to  the  Commissioner
in  whose  district  they  are.  Besides  their  ordinary  preventive ­
  duty,  the  revenue  steamers  are  used  in  connection
with  new  Lights  work  and  for  supplying  Lights,  and  f° f
coast  work  (surveying,  etc.)  as  well.
The  Marine  Department  is  divided  into  the  Engineers»
Harbors;  and  Lights  branches.
The  Engineer-in-Chief  is  charged  with  the  construction
of  new  and  maintenance  of  existing  Lights,  and  the  pr°'
vision  of  illuminating  and  other  special  supplies.  ^
reports  direct  to  the  Inspector  General  on  new  proposal
and  on  Lights  work  affecting  the  whole  coast,  and  through
the  Commissioner,  who  has  joint  authority,  on  work  affe 0 *'
ing  only  one  district.  Under  the  superintendence  at
of  Mr.  David  Marr  Henderson  and  recently  of  Mr.  J.  Reginal
Harding,  there  have  been  installed  by  this  office  and
now  working  io6  Lights  (of  which  14  are  of  the  first  orde r '
and  39  are  occulting,  flashing,  or  revolving),  4  Light-vessel 5 ’
and  22  Light-boats.
At  the  head  of  the  Harbors  Staff  is  the  Coast  Inspect^'
who  supervises  coast  work,  surveying,  sea,  and  river  coU"
servancy  ;  selects  the  sites  for  new  Lights  ;  and  is  Jil
technical  control  of  all  Harbors  work  and  Pilotage
China  generally.  He  reports  direct  to  the  Inspect 0 *