the warehouses were broken open for leaf inspection by 

 prospective buyers, thus adding the term "breaks" to the 

 local language. (Even today, "break" denotes in some 

 areas the start of a tobacco auction or warehouse sales. ) 



An Assembly Act of 1730— the first effective and the 

 most important law relating to inspection of tobacco in 

 the colonies— required that export leaf be brought to 

 "rolling houses" in hogsheads and examined by inspec- 

 tors. Warehouse receipts given to the consignor circu- 

 lated as currency. These tobacco notes specified the 

 amount of leaf in each hogshead, crop type and quality. 

 The 1730 Act had been passed out of urgent necessity 

 (though long delayed) to prevent the disposal of un- 

 sound tobacco. The element of quality was, therefore, 

 of paramount importance. 



The procedure of "breaks" was a defensive method 

 for leaf buyers. They had become wary. Too many ware- 

 house inspectors had grown careless or, at least, inef- 

 ficient. As a consequence of the new marketing methods 

 some inspectors unofficially became auctioneers and 

 sometimes commission merchants. Danville became a 

 center for warehouse auction sales of unprized tobacco 



24 



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