I 



RESTRICTED USE OF SALT 151 



raised to 10^. per barrel in 1785 ; this high rate 

 of duty, however, produced much smuggUng, 

 a trade popular and profitable even under a 

 Home Rule Parliament. 



The English regulations on the use of salt 

 were already strict, but in 1784, to prevent fraud 

 in its use for curing fish, it was made illegal 

 to use foul salt as manure, and fish curers were 

 forbidden to deal in salt. Several alterations 

 were also made in the fishing laws : the herring 

 vessels were excused from making a super- 

 fluous voyage for the purpose of assembling 

 at a given spot preparatory to dispersal for 

 the fishery, but might proceed direct to the 

 fishing at any date between June and October ; 

 they were also permitted to use the salt shipped 

 for curing herrings for the curing of other fish, 

 but were not allowed any bounty on their 

 export ; and any fishing boat might purchase 

 fresh herrings from any British-owned vessel, 

 and might put their herring on such vessels to 

 get them to market at the earliest possible 

 moment. 



Next year another Act (25 Geo. III., c. 65) 

 imposed a great number of restrictions on the 

 use of salt except for purposes of fishing, but 

 even then the salt was so heavily taxed that 

 it was cheaper to throw the fish into the sea 

 than to salt and sell the herring.^ 



* Report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the State 

 of the British Fisheries ; and into the most effectual Means for 

 their Improvement and Extension. Reported by Henry Beaufoy, 

 Eaq., nth May, J 785. 



