BOOIC ir. CHAP. VIII. t2i 



j-Tfhe number of veflcis which enter and, clcaifat this port is com-^ 

 putcd at four hundred, or upwards, . one year with another. 

 Whence it will appear to be flill a place of vexy great import and ex- 

 port. For maintaining the harbour, feveral-very excellent provi- 

 fions have been made. Penalties are laid on any perfon taking ma- 

 terial? or ballaft from the fpit of land, called the, Pallifadoe, which 

 forms a barrier between it and the main fea; as well as on thofe 

 who may throw rubbifh or ballaft into the harbour. The channel 

 is properly marked; and the pilots under good regulation. And, 

 in order to prevent dilbrderly mooring of the fhips, a tax is laid in 

 the following mamier: 



On all vefllels arriving from the Northward of the tropic of 



Cancer ; 



s. d. 



Three mafts, 15° 



Brig, inow, or bilander, 10 o 



Sloop, and fchooner, 7 6 



And, on all veflels coming from between the tropics, one half the 

 above rates; except coafting veflels, which are taxed 2J. dd. each, 

 payable every three months. The money arifing from this impoft 

 is applied to the eftablifhment of a water-bailiff; whofe bufinefs it is, 

 to fee that all thefe veflels fix their moorings properly and without 

 confufion. It feems, however, a little impolitic to throw this ad- 

 ditional load upon the (hipping that frequent this port, from which 

 the other ports of the ifland are exempted ; efpecially as a very mo- 

 derate addition to their annual parifh-tax might have anfwered the 

 purpofe. The church-wardens of this town are incorporated, for 

 the better management of every thing relative to the parochial 

 taxes; the markets and ftreets are under the regulation of the 

 juftices and veftry ; the market for butchers meat is moft plentifully 

 fupplied ; and the fifli-market, which is kept every day from eight 

 in the morning till two in the afternoon, is fuperior to moft in the 

 world. 



It is impoflible to afcertain, with precifion, either the number 

 of the inhabitants, or the ftate of health, from the number of bu- 

 rials, becaufe many feamen and ftrangers who die are confounded 

 with the town's people. 



Vol. II. R The 



