916 Deane Phillips 



ever, were in the nature of a disposal of an already existing surplus of 

 horses. But with the settlement of Rhode Island and Connecticut these 

 regions soon adopted the raising of horses for export as a regular source 

 of income, and their ports at length came to displace those on Massa- 

 chusetts Bay as leaders in the trade. 



Some of the reasons for the development of the industry in the newer 

 regions have already been indicated. The broader and more level low- 

 lands, extensive salt marshes to furnish hay, lagoons and ponds to serve 

 as natural boundaries for the pastures, all combined to give these regions 

 an advantage. To this should be added the fact that much of this 

 abundant marsh and other forage was easily accessible for boats, which 

 could make their way into the numberless small streams and inlets and 

 there be loaded with little difficultj^^ This was a matter of no small 

 gain when it is remembered how difficult it would have been to trans- 

 port such a bulky commodity as hay over the rough frontier roads of 

 the period. Forage of some sort was a very necessary part of the cargo 

 of the vessels carrying horses to the Indies, for the horses must be 

 fed in transit, and the hay, even though it was commonly pressed into 

 rough bales ( 129 ) , was an unwieldly article to handle ; while the horses 

 themselves, if necessary, could be driven long distances to the point 

 of embarkation. 



The development of horse raising as an industry in Rhode Island and 

 Connecticut went hand in hand with the development of the commerce 

 of these colonies with the sugar islands. Its extent, however, must 

 mainly be inferred from mention of it in the reports of the various 

 governors to the Lords of Trade in London and from such fragmentary 

 records of actual shipments as are available. 



EXPORTATIONS FROM RHODE ISLAND PORTS 



The Rhode Island ports were the first in the new region to embark in 

 the export trade, and even as early as 1681 horses are mentioned by 

 Governor Sanford as one of the " principall matters of export " (130). 

 In the next twenty years the shipping had increased '' sixfold " and 

 horses were being sent to Jamaica, Barbados, Nevis, Antigua, St. 



* As early as 1749, hay was being shipped from the region by boat to other places 

 in New England which were less well supplied. (Elliot, Essays upon Field Husbandry, 

 2d, p. 21.) 



