64 Industrial Experiments in Colonial America. 



ment, not only of pitch, tar and allied products, but also for 

 masts and heavy ship timber. The preamble, which explains 

 the objects of the act, contains, in a nutshell, the current theory 

 of the normal commercial relation between the mother-country 

 and the colonies. It reads: 



"Whereas the Royal Navy and the Navigation of England wherein 

 under God the Wealth and Safety and Strength of this Kingdom is so 

 much concerned, depends on the due supply of Stores necessary for the 

 same, which being now brought mostly from Foreign Parts in For- 

 eign Shipping at exorbitant and Arbitrary Rates to the great Preju- 

 dice and Discouragement of the Trade and Navigation of this King- 

 dom, may be provided in a more certain and beneficial Manner from 

 Her Majesty's own Dominions; And Whereas her Majesty's Colonies 

 and Plantations in America were first settled and are still maintained 

 and protected at a great Expense to the Treasure of this Kingdom with 

 a Design to render them as useful as may be to England, and the Labor 

 and Industry of the People there profitable to themselves; And in re- 

 gard the said Colonies and Plantations by the vast Tracts of Land 

 therein lying near the Sea and upon navigable Rivers may commo- 

 diously afford great Quantities of all Sorts of Naval Stores if due En- 

 couragement be given for carrying on so great and advantageous an 

 Undertaking, which will likewise tend not only to the further Imploy- 

 ment and Increase of English Shipping and Seamen, but also to the 

 Inlarging in a great Measure the Trade and Vent of the Woolen and 

 other Manufactures and Commodities of this Kingdom and of other 

 Her Majesty's Dominions, in Exchange for such Naval Stores which 

 are now purchased from Foreign Countries with Money or Bullion 

 And for enabling Her Majesty's Subjects in the said Colonies and 

 Plantations to continue to make due and sufficient Returns in the 

 course of their Trade, Be it therefore enacted, etc." 



The rates of premium granted on stores imported directly 

 from any of the plantations in any ships manned according to 

 the requirements of the law were as follows: 



For good and merchantable tar, 4 pounds per ton (each ton to con- 

 tain 8 barrels of 315^ gallons each). 



For good and merchantable pitch, 4 pounds per ton (each ton to 

 contain 20 gross hundreds in 8 barrels). 



For hemp, water-rotted, bright and clean, 6 pounds per ton. 



For all masts, yards and bowsprits, i pound per ton (allowing 40 



