Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - The Board of Trade, Mercantile Marine Offices at Penarth Dock . . .

The Royal Commission on Unseaworthy Ships published a report in July 1874 which provided the impetus for its officials to visit Liverpool, assess the voluntary steps introduced, and recommended a national system be introduced based upon that model. A question in this report asked 'Has it stopped crimping?' and the reply was 'The evidence is that at Cardiff it has done great good.'

The article in the Nautical Magazine discusses the advantages and shortcomings of these offices and was rather critical of some branches since they were somewhat less than effective. It goes on the describe the example of the port of Cardiff (which included Penarth) in further detail. (as at the publication date of 1872)

'Take the case of Cardiff. This place has been growing rapidly in the extent of its commerce for forty years. At the time of the introduction of the shipping-office system, in 1850, the population was about 18,000, and now it is more than 70,000. A continued and regular growth, in proportion, has taken place in its shipping. At that time the system of shipping crews was done by 'licensed shipping agents,' who had no official or legal force further than to engage seamen, and charge a fee for doing so.

In 1851, a small office was attached to the Custom House for the purpose of facilitating the engagement and the discharge of crews, and, generally, to carry out the purposes of the Act of 1850. In it a solitary clerk was placed, and he, with the help of the "licensed shipping agents," continued. with but little other assistance. to do all the business up till 1866. By that time work had increased ten-fold, and the office and staff (save the mark!) were utterly inadequate for the mere routine required, far less to keep down the evils of crimping, desertion, and numerous other infringements of the Act, which ensued. The place became a bye-word and a scandal, not only in the United Kingdom, but all over the world where British shipping traded. The Board of Trade interfered, placed a small police-staff at the office, added another wing to the premises, and strengthened the clerical staff. Since then numerous prosecutions of crimps, and other delinquents, have been carried out, and now, although the business has more than doubled since 1866, the order and regularity of the port can compare favourably with the best of the kingdom . . '

Even so, a more commodious office of the most modern plan, it was reported, was to be constructed in order to meet the rising demand for its services. The report continues :