cent of the total, there being 944 of the former and 512 of the latter. The total number of seamen arriving on these vessels was 40,777, an increase of 18.86 per cent over the previous year. A total of 1,082 Chinese seamen arrived as members of the crews of 86 vessels The number of seamen discharged to reship was 492. Of the 212 deserting seamen none were of the Chinese race or natives of the Asiatic zone described in section 3 of the immigration act, and only 8 were subjects of Japan. Sixty-eight alien seamen applied for entry, 2 of whom were rejected. The total number of seamen examined was 40,777, cards were issued to 8,243, and 427 were certified for loathsome or dangerous contagious diseases, 104 of whom were removed to hospitals for treatment.

With reference to the medical examination and treatment of seamen, it is to be regretted that it has been a physical impossibility to fully measure up to the bureau's wishes in this matter. Arrangements have been made for the medical examination at Quarantine in Galveston Bay of all alien seamen employed on vessels destined to Port Bolivar, Texas City, and points up the Houston ship channel, while seamen employed on vessels arriving at Galveston are medically examined immediately after the vessel is docked. The Federal Government has not thus far maintained quarantine stations at other ports along the Texas coast, State officials being in charge of that work, and there are no medical officers of the United States Public Health Service stationed elsewhere in the district, except at Port Arthur, where one acting assistant surgeon is located.

At all ports and subports in the district where practicable there is an arrangement with the customs officials whereby vessels will not be cleared unless an O. K. is presented, signed by an immigration officer, and this O. K. is not given until the master of the vessel has complied with all the provisions of the immigration law and regulations.

STOWAWAYS.

Eighteen stowaways were found on arriving vessels, of whom 10 were admitted and excluded.

ESCAPES OF ALIENS FROM VESSELS AND STATIONS, EXCLUSIVE OF SEAMEN.

There is only one transaction to report under this heading. An alien had been placed on board a vessel for deportation via New York and his departure verified in the usual manner. The vessel became disabled at sea, however, a short time after leaving Galveston and returned to the dock for repairs, without notice to this service. The alien escaped and his present whereabouts is unknown to this office.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

The sum of $592 was collected in head tax, and $190 in fines assessed.

The previously described arrangement, whereby clearance of vessels is not granted until all requirements of the immigration law and regulations have been complied with, has greatly reduced the number of fines assessed.

Disbursements during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918, amounted to $10,161.11, while during the past year, under practically the same conditions, the amount expended was only $5.846.83, resulting in a net saving of $4,296.28, or 42.28 per cent. This was accomplished by discontinuing the services of a boat for boarding purposes and other immigration work, giving up the lease of certain wharf space for landing purposes and practicing rigid economy throughout the district.

The allotment for the past year was $5,500.

In view of the proposed transfer of the immigration office from Corpus Christi to Aransas Pass, Tex., the opening of an office at Beaumont and slightly increased rental at Galveston it is believed that $6,500 will be required for the district for the coming year.

CONTRACT LABOR.

From the beginning of the fiscal year until the end of January, 1919, there was one immigrant inspector (sec. 24) stationed in this district. Since February 1, investigations in contract labor cases have been conducted by various inspectors. Aside from cases of Mexican laborers imported under departmental exception, there have been but 11 cases for consideration in this district during the year. Most of those were of aliens applying for admission at ports in other districts and coming to destinations in this. None developed facts sufficient to justify prosecution of alleged importers.

WORK OF THE MEDICAL OFFICERS.

The work which the medical officers have been called upon to perform has been very greatly increased by the operation of the immigration act of February 5, 1917, which requires a much stricter examination of alien seamen. These officers have willingly performed all duties required of them and their cheerful cooperation with this service has been very helpful and satisfactory to this office.

SMUGGLING OPERATIONS.

While there have been few reports indicating that efforts to smuggle aliens into the United States have been made through this district during the year, every step possible has been taken with the force of employees available to prevent such attempts.

CHINESE PREINVESTIGATION MATTERS.

No preinvestigations of Chinese cases have been made in this district during the year. One case which was preinvestigated during the previous year was with the department pending decision at the beginning of the year. The applicant was finally refused return certificate. One Chinese who had been preinvestigated during the previous year and granted a return certificate as a citizen had been refused a passport by the Department of State. Subsequently his application for a passport was granted and he departed for China via San Francisco.

INVESTIGATIONS.

One hundred and three investigations were conducted in connection with cases of aliens applying for entry or after & Imission temporarily or on bond; 183 investigations in warrant cases, 21 in naturalization matters, and 9 in Chinese cases were also made. The matter of investigations of contract-labor cases, including the cases of alien laborers imported under the department's exceptions, of warrant cases, of Chinese preinvestigation cases, of seamen cases in which records of proceedings have been had, have already been discussed in this report. Many investigations of other matters of various sorts have been made, of which, from the very nature of the cases, no record could well be preserved. Many deserting alien seamen or seamen paid off to reship but who had not reshipped in a reasonable time came to the attention of the office. In most such cases informal investigations were made and opportunities were given to such alien seamen to reship for foreign ports. In that manner many alien seamen illegally in the country were just as effectively sent out of the country as if warrant proceedings had been had and without expense. Many matters which proved to be of no direct interest to the Immigration Service, but which were of interest to others of the various Government intelligence services, were investigated in part by this service and information given to the appropriate services. No record has been kept of such matters, but they required much work and time from employees of this service. In fact officers and employees of the Immigration Service in this district have cooperated with and rendered all possible assistance to every other branch of the Government service throughout the period of the war without thought of credit to this service, but with the sole purpose of being useful and helpful in the common cause. This has added much to our work, but nothing to the recorded matters which this office can place before you.

Since 1917, the Chinese refugee camp at Camp Stanley, San Antonio, Tex., has furnished to Camp Logan and Ellington Field, military and aviation fields, respectively, located near Houston, Tex., a large number of Chinese servants for mess halls, officers' clubs, etc. These have been frequently changed, by being returned to Camp Stanley, transferred to other camps, and in various other ways, and new ones sent from time to time to replace those moved to other places. Until recently no very satisfactory system has been in vogue by which this office could be kept advised of changes made; and a certain amount of visiting of these camps and checking of these Chinese has been necessary. It is believed that matters have now been arranged in such a way that advices to this office will be furnished in a more satisfactory manner. The investigations of cases of alien applicants for permission to depart from the United States under the passport permit regulations and the work of attending to passport permit matters have required a very large part of the time and effort of some of the officers stationed in this district.

STATION AND EQUIPMENT.

As stated in previous reports, the immigration station on Pelican Spit was badly damaged by the tropical hurricane of August, 1915, and, because of the fact that during the war the building was not needed for immigration purposes, only temporary repairs were made. In January, 1916, quarters were secured and the office force moved to the sixth floor of the American National Insurance Co. building in Galves ton proper, in the center of the business district, where the service still maintains its headquarters for the district. In October, 1916, the use of the immigration station building was tendered to and accepted by the Secretary of the Treasury for use of the United States Coast Guard Service; the formal transfer, however, was not consummated until November 14, 1918. The station is not now occupied or used by this service, except to store a large amount of extra furniture and equipment.

PERSONNEL.

The officers and employees assigned to this district deserve commendation for the loyal and faithful discharge of their duties. Their efforts have resulted in a satisfactory administration of the affairs of the district during the past year. The proposed increase in salaries effective July 1, amounting to $240 per annum, will be greatly appreciated by all recipients. It was both deserved and needed. The most cordial relations and active cooperation exist between officers of this service and those of every other branch of the Government.

PASSPORT-PERMIT WORK.

From September 15, 1918, until the close of the fiscal year 207 applications for permits to depart were filed. Nearly 60 per cent of the applications were filed by aliens of Mexican nationality, and a little more than 60 per cent of the applicants desired to depart for destinations in Mexico. This is due, of course, to the nearness of this district to the Mexican border and its comparatively large Mexican population. The original rules and regulations which required three applications from each applicant and the reference of every application to the Foreign Permits Office of the State Department with a report of investigation and a recommendation for or against granting permit before permit could be issued entailed much work in checking applications and caused much delay and inconvenience to applicants. The extension of the use of aliens' border identity cards, so that travel to all parts of Mexico could be had on them, and the provision that such cards could be issued by one office in this district greatly lessened the work in cases of aliens who desired to go to Mexico. The later provision under which permit agents might issue permits to citizens or subjects of allied countries five days after applications were filed without referring such applications to the Foreign Permits Office; and the still later provision which made it possible for permit agents to issue permits to citizens or subjects not only of allied countries but to those of neutral countries as well upon oral applications and without reference to the Foreign Permits Office, have so simplified matters that at the end of the fiscal year this work has been reduced to a minimum, as has also the delay and inconvenience to applicants.

But three applications filed in this district have been finally denied by the Foreign Permits Office. In one of these cases the applicant was a citizen of Mexico; in one, a subject of Great Britain; in one, a subject of Germany. One permit issued to a subject of Great Britain was later suspended by the issuing permit agent and the matter was referred to the Foreign Permits Office for a final decision which has not yet been given.

COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION, SAN JUAN, P. R., IN CHARGE OF DISTRICT NO, 21, COMPRISING PORTO RICO.

APPLICATIONS.

Of the 1,587 aliens who arrived at ports of this district from foreign, 1,554 were admitted, 300 of whom were immigrants and 1,254 nonimmigrants. Of the 180 aliens from insular possession, Virgin Islands, 172 were admitted, 51 being immigrants and 121 nonimmigrants. Of the 1.617 aliens leaving ports of the island for foreign, 426 were emigrants and 1,191 nonemigrants. Of the 185 aliens departing for the insular possession, Virgin Islands, 26 were emigrants and 159 nonemigrants. Of the 719

aliens who proceeded to the mainland of the United States, 26 had a foreign destination and were therefore considered emigrants, and 693 were nonemigrants. Of the 3,329 United States citizens departing foreign, 1,518 were emigrants and 1,811 nonemigrants. Of the 298 United States citizens departing for the insular possession, Virgin Islands, 9 were emigrants and 289 nonemigrants. Of the 19,636 citizens departing for the mainland of the United States, 3 had a foreign destination and were considered emigrants and 19,633 were nonemigrants.

EXCLUSIONS.

Of the 1.767 arriving from foreign and the insular possession. Virgin Islands, 38 were excluded by boards of special inquiry, 8 of this number filing appeals.

DEPORTATIONS (EXPULSIONS).

Of the total number of aliens who applied for admission arriving from foreign and the insular possession, Virgin Islands, 32 were actually deported and 2 were awaiting deportation at the close of the fiscal year. The aliens ordered deported during the year represent 1.92 per cent of the arrivals, as against 1.65 per cent in 1918.

In addition to the 32 aliens who had arrived during the year, there were also deported 2 aliens whose cases had been pending from the previous year. A third case from the preceding year is still pending.

The cases of 15 aliens were handled under departmental warrant procedure, of whom 4 were deported. One case, involving 6 aliens, is pending at the date of this report, and proceedings in the remaining 5 were canceled.

war.

DETENTION QUARTERS.

As repeatedly stated in previous annual reports, the Government has no detention station at the port of San Juan, and detained aliens are placed by steamship companies in hotels, and, when necessary, under guard approved by the commissioner. At the smaller ports in this district, the steamship companies detain the aliens under arrangements of the immigrant inspector in charge. This method of detention was first inaugurated in 1913, and although in normal times it has worked satisfactorily, the lack of suitable detention quarters was severely felt by this service during the At times it was found extremely difficult to keep aliens sufficiently well guarded to protect the interests of the United States and to keep them entirely incommunicado until completion of examination, admission, or deportation. Furthermore, in a number of instances, it was almost impossible for steamship companies to find hotel accommodations for detained aliens, due to the fact that local hotels were frequently overcrowded or declined to accept an alien who was to be kept under a special guard. It is thought, however, that with the return to peace conditions no further difficulty will be encountered by reason of lack of detention quarters and that the present method of detention will prove adequate to the needs of the service.

DESERTING ALIEN SEAMEN.

During the year there were reported in this district as having deserted, 15 alien seamen, of whom 2 subsequently applied voluntarily for regular admission, paid head tax and were admitted; 2 applied for seamen's cards and were permitted to reship foreign; and 3 were definitely ascertained to have reshipped foreign without examination by immigration officers. The 8 remaining deserters have not been apprehended nor accounted for, but it is believed that they reshipped foreign at the first opportunity.

SEAMEN APPLYING FOR ADMISSION.

Thirty-two alien seamen applied for admission during the fiscal year; of these 30 were admitted and 2 excluded and deported. The number of admitted includes 1 illiterate alien seaman, who was excluded by the board of special inquiry but on appeal admitted by the Department.

STOWAWAYS.

One stowaway applied for admission during the year and was excluded and deported. Nine other stowaways, 4 of whom had arrived from South American ports and 5 from Spanish ports, did not apply for admission and were kept aboard the respective vessels under special guard.

HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

One alien passenger, for humanity's sake, was given immediate hospital treatment. Forty-four alien seamen were permitted to receive treatment at hospitals upon the request of the respective steamship companies, and 28 of these reshipped foreign after cure had been effected, 5 died, and 11 are still under treatment in hospitals.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS,

During the year head tax in the total amount of $7,824 was turned into the permanent fund of collections.

The sum of $24, representing head tax erroneously assessed in three cases, the amount thereof having been turned into the permanent fund of collections, was refunded under departmental order from the appropriation "Expenses of regulating immigration, 1919."

Administrative fines amounting to $3,360 (including $1,730 on account of cases pending at the beginning of the year) were collected, as compared with $1,860 so collected in 1918.

ALIEN CERTIFICATES.

There were 772 alien certificates, Form 546, issued during the year, covering 797 passengers intending to proceed to the mainland of the United States.

NUMBER OF VESSELS BOARDED.

There were 941 vessels boarded in this district during the year in the interests of the Immigration Service, as compared with 1,009 in the preceding year. Of these, 602 arrived at San Juan, 127 at Guanica, 101 at Mayaguez, and the remainder at the smaller ports.

ALIEN SEAMEN EXAMINED.

A total of 15.567 alien seamen arriving from foreign were examined at ports of Porto Rico during the year, or 211 more than the preceding year. Of these seamen 1,541 were furnished with identity cards.

In addition to the identity cards issued to alien seamen, there were also 169 American citizens furnished with such cards.

In connection with the examination of alien seamen, the inspection officers in this district exercised the greatest care and vigilance with a view of detecting alien enemies who might be employed aboard vessels under assumed nationality and such other persons as might be inimical to the United States and engaged in activities detrimental to our Government in the prosecution of the war. Shore leave, as regards alien crew members, was restricted as much as possible and no one was permitted to leave the vessel unless he was in possession of an identification card and other proper documents, and then only after a further careful examination by the military and naval intelligence services and the Department of Justice. In the case of certain neutral vessels only such persons were granted shore leave as could show absolute necessity to come on land and attend to the vessel's business. This practice was followed particularly with regard to vessels the crews of which were undoubtedly pro-German in sympathy.

There were apprehended by this service 2 alien enemies who arrived at the port of San Juan under assumed nationality, as members of the crews of a British and an American vessel, respectively.

The writer feels that the examination and surveillance of alien seamen was conducted efficiently and effectively; but had this service relied solely upon its own employees, who were but few in number, it would have been unable to cope successfully with the situation. Had it not been for the whole-hearted cooperation given this service by the collector of customs, whose duty it is to provide proper guards for vessels arriving from and departing to foreign, all endeavors of this service would have been futile. This service also had the hearty and highly efficient cooperation of the Naval Intelligence Service, the officer in charge of which is a man of keen insight and sound judgment.

CHARACTER OF IMMIGRATION.

Of the 1,554 aliens admitted to Porto Rico as coming from foreign, only 300, or about 23 per cent, were immigrants. On the whole, the character of immigration was of a high order, probably due to the general travel control enforced in European