78 Industrial Experiments in Colonial America. 



them in such particulars as experience had shown them open 

 to criticism, and adding some new provisions. Section i re- 

 lated to the production of hemp, the previous encouragement 

 of which had not proved successful. In view of the large tracts 

 of land in the plantations and in Scotland, lying near the sea and 

 on navigable rivers, upon which hemp might be profitably cul- 

 tivated if sulftcient encouragement were given, it was enacted 

 that the bounty of 6 pounds given by the previous act for every 

 ton of hemp water-rotted, bright and clean, should be contin- 

 ued from the expiration of the act, 12 Anne, during a term of 

 16 years; and that after June 24, 1722, all such hemp lawfully 

 imported should be free from all duties and customs. Section 2 

 removed the duties from all sorts of woods, plank and timber 

 imported directly from the plantations in accordance with the 

 navigation laws. Section 3 reserved for the royal navy the 

 right of pre-emption of all hemp imported under this act. Sec- 

 tion 4 made an important change in the regulation of the pre- 

 mium on pitch and tar. It reads: 



"And whereas a premium was given for tar (3 and 4 Anne), contin- 

 ued by 12 Anne, and provision made against frauds by 5 Geo. I. c. 2; 

 and whereas the tar imported from the plantations has hitherto been 

 found to retain an hot and thick quahty whereby it is not so fit for 

 cordage as the East Country tar; for remedy thereof, be it enacted 

 that from and after September 29, 1724, no certificate be made by the 

 Officer of Customs for tar imported, *** nor bill granted by the Com- 

 missioners of the Navy to entitle the importer to the premium, unless a 

 certificate from the Governor, Lieut. Governor, Collector of Cus- 

 toms and Navy Officers or any two of them, do express that such tar 

 was made from green trees in the manner hereby prescribed: That is 

 to say, that when such trees were fit to bark, the bark thereof was 

 stripped eight feet or thereabouts up from the root of each tree, a slip 

 of the bark of about four inches in breadth having been left on the side 

 of each tree; and that each tree, after having been so barked, had 

 stood during one year at least and was not cut down for making of 

 tar." 



The news of the requirement of conformity to the rules pre- 

 scribed by the act caused dismay and consternation among the 

 merchants, who lost no time in entering a protest against such 



