THE STOPPAGE OF CONTRABAND.
The task of the Navy in this matter lay so entirely outside the sphere
of the military operations on land that it will be sufficient to say
here that, despite the extreme delicacy of the situation created by
the fact that it was only through neutral ports that the Boers could
obtain supplies after the war had begun, the vigilance exercised was
remarkably effective. The amount of contraband which reached the enemy
was insignificant, yet very few claims for compensation were
successfully sustained by neutrals. Ordinary trade, through Lourenço
Marques, including, unfortunately, British trade, was uninterrupted
till, towards the end of 1900, in consequence of the progress of the
war, it died a natural death. In their careful watching of the coast
and river-mouths the sailors, under Captain W. B. Fisher, of the
_Magicienne_, had some trying experiences. Lieut. Massy Dawson, of the
_Forte_, and Lieut. H. S. Leckie, of H.M.S. _Widgeon_, who received
the Albert medal, did most gallant service.