68 Industrial Experiments in Colonial America. 



the passing of the act, but in the last year before the bounty was 

 ofifered, only 872 barrels of pitch and tar had been brought 

 from the plantations, as over against 42,856 from Sweden and 

 17,797 from the rest of Europe. The next year's account shows 

 a falling ofi of over 10,000 barrels for Sweden, 3,000 for the 

 rest of Europe, and a gain of 1,474 barrels for the plantations. 

 In 1706, the importation from Sweden decreased by over 8,000 

 barrels; that from the rest of Europe was only half that of 1705, 

 while the plantations gained 4,000 barrels. It should be noted 

 that the total importation had decreased during the last three 

 years, i. e., since the outbreak of the war with France. In 1707, 

 the Swedish importation was about the same as in 1706, while 

 the plantation figures rose to the highest point reached in any 

 year until after the renewal of the act in 1714, and exceeded the 

 rest of Europe by over three thousand. The year 1708 showed 

 a very slight increase for Sweden and the rest of Europe, and a 

 falling of¥ of more than 3,000 barrels for the plantations. 



Bridger, in a letter received March 13, 1708, accounts for this 

 decrease, by saying that the failure of the Navy to pay the pre- 

 miums according to the act had discouraged the people from 

 buying stores and that they preferred to send other goods at 

 greater loss.^ The Board wrote back that Bridger must be mis- 

 taken about the refusal of the Navy to pay the premium, for 

 certificates of the good quality of the stores had certainly been 

 issued at the custom house; but they would investigate the mat- 

 ter.^ When questioned, the custom house officers reported that 

 588 tons, 7 barrels, 15 gallons of tar; and 643 tons, 12 hundred 

 weight, one-quarter, 5 pounds of pitch had received certificates 

 for the premium up to November 29, 1707.^ This would amount 

 to more than 12,223 barrels, counting 2 cwt. to the barrel. The 

 total importation of pitch and tar from December 25, 1704 ,to 

 December 25, 1707, if the table can be trusted, was 18,459 t)ar- 

 rels; so that something like six thousand barrels must have 



iMr. Bridger to the Board of Trade, B. T. New Eng., R: 53. 

 ^Board of Trade to Mr. Bridger, B. T. New Eng., R: Entry for July 

 7, 1708. 



^Memorandum of Custom House Report, B. T. Plants. Gen. I: 46. 



