A. D. 1703, 725 



in a more certain and beneficial manner from her majefly's planta- 

 tions in America, where the vafl tracts of land lying near the fea and 

 on navigable rivers may commodioufly affoi-d great quantities of all 

 forts of naval ftores, by due encouragement, wliich may likewife tend 

 to the farther employment and increafe of Englifh fliipping and fea- 

 men, and alfo of the trade and vent of the woollen and other manu- 

 factures and produdl in exchange for fuch naval ftores, now purchafed 

 of foreign countries for ready money : it was therefor now enacted, 

 that whoever ihall (in fliips and with lailors qualified as by the ads of 

 navigation) import from the Englifh plantations in America the un- 

 der-named naval ftores, fhall be entitled to the following bounties, viz. 



For good and merchantable tar and pitch, per ton of 8 bar- 



* rels, _ _ . - - L4 o o 



■ rofin or turpentine, per ton, 300 



hemp, water-rotted, bright and clean, per ton of 20 



' cwt. - - - - - -600 



t For all mafts, yards, and bowfprits, per ton, of 40 feet each 



* ton, - - - - - - 100 



' I . Frovifo, that for the particular benefit of the royal navy, the pre- 

 ' emption or refufal of the faid naval ftores fliall be tendered to the com- 

 ' millioners of her majefty's navy upon landing the fame ; and if with- 

 \in twenty days the navy board ftiall not bargain for the fame, then the ' 



* proprietors may difpofe of them to their beft advantage. 



* 2. That none within the colonies of New-Hampftiire, Maflachufet's • 



* bay, Rhode -ifland, and Providence-plantation, the Narraganfet-coun- 

 ' try or King's-province, and Connecticut in New-England ; and in New- 



* York, and New-Jerfey, ftiall prefume to cut, fell, or deftroy, any pitch- 

 ' pine trees, or tar trees, not being within any inclofure, under the 



* growth of twelve inches diameter, at three feet from the earth, on for- 

 ' feiture of L5 for each offence. Nor, 3dly, fliall wilfully fet fire to 



* any wood or foreft, in which are any fuch trees prepared for making 



* pitch or tar, without firft giving notice to the owners thereof, or to a 



* magiftrate, under the penalty of Lio.' 



' This to be in force for nine years, from the ift of January, 1705, 

 old ftile.' [3, 4 ^Inn. c. 10.] 



The good confequence of this feafonable law was foon after felt : and ■ 

 the colonies, at this time import into England great quantities of mer- 

 chantable pitch and tar, fit for moft ufes in the navy, and which may in 

 time be probably brought to ferve for all ufes, fo as to render us ablblute- 

 ly independent on Sweden for thofe two moft neceflary articles. Of late al- 

 fo good hemp and flax are raifed in our colonies, where there are immenfc 

 quantities of excellent lands proper for raifing thofe commodities, Mr. 



