SOS [Assembly 



Alexander Burton, Esq., Consul at Cadiz, in a letter to the Secre- 

 tary of State, dated Sept. lSl3, says: 



*•' Salt can be sold only at wholesale by individuals, and solely for 

 exportation to foreign countries. The average price of this year's 

 export is 4|- cents per bushel. The retail of salt throughout the 

 Spanish dominions is a monopoly of the government, and it is at 

 present farmed out. The fixed price of sale for this article of con- 

 sumption of Spain differs according to the distance from the sea. 

 In Andalusia it is $2.75 per 103 weight. Salt is sold for cash. 

 American vessels coming to Cadiz in ballast to load this article, 

 generally bring specie." 



The United States Consulate at Marseilles, under date of March 

 3d, 1843, reports to the Secretary of State, as follows: 



" Salt $2.40 to $3.20 per ton, of 2240 lbs. Salt is generally 

 taken as ballast by masters of vessels. Retail price six cents per 

 pound. Internal taxes $6 on 224 pounds. No export duty." 



Salt at Liverpool costs fifteen shillings sterling per ton, of 2240 

 lbs.; bags to contain one ton, cost 12s. 6d.; filling and sewing 15s.; 

 river frieght 3s.; mats for dunage, 3s. 8d. ; this is a fraction short of 

 28 cents per bushel of 56 lbs. on board. 



George Gibbs, Esq., Acting United States Consul at Turks Island, 

 reports to the Secretary of State, under date of Aug. 31, 1843, as 

 follows: 



" Salt is the only produce of this Island. Wholesale price 8 

 cents per bushel. Export duty 1 cent per bushel to the United 

 States." 



W. H. Freeman, Esq., U. S. Consul at Curacoa, writes to the 

 Secretary of State, under date of Nov. 1843, as follows: 



" The salt of Curacoa and its dependencies is acknowledged on 

 all hands to be superior to all other. It is heavier by about 20 per 

 cent., and the same being obliged to pay duty by weight, and being 

 sold by measure, enables other Salt Ponds in the "^est Indies to sup- 

 ply the United States with an inferior article, and thus exclude that 

 made here; and while salt in all other parts of the West Indies is 

 paid for in cash by vessels taking the same, (here it has generally 

 been shipped on account of the planters, so termed,) and the returns 



