The Bounty System. 71 



continuance of the bounty gave a fresh impetus to importation 

 and the amount of pitch and tar recorded rose from 4,825 bar- 

 rels, in 1 7 13, to 82,084 in 1718, — an increase of 77,259 barrels 

 in five years. 



The encouragement had not proved so stimulating to the im- 

 portation of ship-timber, although the reports show a fairly 

 steady increase. The largest number of great masts brought 

 over from 1701 to the passing of the first bounty act was 81, 

 in 1703, when the total importation of great masts was 710. The 

 maximum import from the plantations between 1705 and 1715 

 was 261, in a year when 1,981 masts were brought from Sweden 

 and the rest of Europe. Very few "middle" and "small" masts 

 were brought from America,^ and the north country timber 

 continued to be much cheaper. On the other hand, it was con- 

 stantly asserted by the surveyor, the governors and the mer- 

 chants, that the supply of New England would be boundless if 

 the waste of the loggers could be stopped, and the Board of 

 Trade were informed by those whom they consulted, that, al- 

 though discredited by the Navy Board (who seem to have been 

 prejudiced in their judgment), New England masts were else- 

 where reckoned fully as good as Rupia, and many as good as 

 Riga, masts. Therefore, having successfully provided for the 

 importation of pitch and tar, the Board turned their attention 

 to the further encouragement of timber. In 171 1, they had, in 

 consequence of some suggestions of Governor Dudley, sounded 

 the Admiralty on the advisability of offering a premium on 

 spars and boards as well as on other stores.' The Admiralty, 

 having consulted the Navy Board, said they had no objection, 

 but could not advise what premium would be proper; while the 

 Navy protested that such a bounty ought not to be paid by 

 them, but by the Custom House, or in some other way : they 

 could buy cheaper from the East Country.^ 



^See table. Appendix B. 



2The Board of Trade to Secretary Burchett, B. T. New Eng. 

 Entry Bk. G., Jan. 5, 1711. 



■'Navy Board to Board of Trade, B. T. New Eng. T: 17. 



