518 A. E. Verritt — The Bermuda Islands. 



is also a hint about other frauds connected with it, in speaking of 

 Mr. Christopher Carter, the one of the finders who confessed it. 

 (See Part III, ch. 26, c.) 



But although ambergris was repeatedly found there, it was never 

 again found in large amounts. This first shipment, however, had 

 much to do with the rapid settlement of the islands. 



Cedar lumber, in various forms, was the next article shipped. An 

 entire cargo was shipped to London in 1616, and from that time on, 

 for more than a hundred years, much of it was constantly exported, 

 though during most of that time its exportation was forbidden, 

 except in the form of chests to hold tobacco, oranges, etc., unless by 

 a special license. The chests were made very large and of thick 

 planks, so that the lumber could be sold in London at a good price, 

 for the cedar wood had then a high value for ornamental furniture. 

 It cost 2 s 6 d to 3 s per foot to saw it into planks by hand in Bermuda, 

 which must have made its price high in London. Had the Company 

 allowed its shipment in logs or squared timber, no doubt the islands 

 would soon have been entirely stripped. (See Part III, ch. 26, b, 

 under Bermuda Cedar.) 



Yellow-wood timber was also shipped, so long as it lasted, but it 

 was probably nearly extinct as early as 1650. (See Part III, ch. 26.) 



Cargoes of limestone, to burn for lime, were sometimes shipped to 

 Virginia, in early times, and bricks were received in return. 



From about 1622, Indian corn, potatoes, beef, pork, honey, wax, 

 and salted fish (mostly groupers) were shipped in considerable quan- 

 tities to the West Indies, and sometimes to the American Colonies. 

 From 1630, oranges and lemons were also shipped to London, Vir- 

 ginia, and New England, more or less. But most of this trade with 

 the other colonies was forbidden by the Company and therefore it 

 was often done secretly. 



Freedom to trade with other colonies in cattle, hogs, fruit, and 

 other provisions was first allowed by the Company in 1644, probably 

 in consequence of the Dutch war, and the danger of losing their own 

 vessels. But trading in tobacco was again strictly forbidden, under 

 all circumstances. 



b. — Tobacco; Salt. 



During the first seventy years of the colon}-, tobacco was the 

 principal commodity exported. At first it Avas very profitable, but 

 its price, which was 2 8 6 d per pound in L 620-25, soon declined to 

 such an extent, about 1627, owing partly to the better Virginia 

 tobacco competing with it, that it was not remunerative, and often 





