Horse RAISING IN CoLONIAL New ENGLAND 909 
place in the sugar industry, and horses continued to be an important 
item in the exchanges. In the various ups and downs of the sugar 
trade, therefore, is to be found the explanation for corresponding 
changes in the raising of horses which took place in New Eneland dur- 
ing the first half of the eighteenth century. 
GROWTH OF THE SUGAR TRADE AND EXPANSION OF THE MARKET FOR HORSES. 
In 1698 a decree of the Royal Council of France allowed sugar from 
the French islands, which were at that time producing only small 
quantities, to be sent directly to any port in Europe. This proved a 
ereat stimulus to the development of the French colonies, and after 
the Peace of Utrecht the growth of these was rapid (103). Martinique, 
Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Santo Domingo—the French colony on 
the island of Hispaniola, or Haiti—all came into the market with 
sugars. Prices fell off sharply as a result of the increased production 
(104), and the British islands — partly, at least, because of the law 
compelling them to send their sugar first to England, from whenee it 
was re-exported*— found it difficult to compete with the French, who 
were soon in a fair way to oust the British from their leadership in the 
trade (105). 
The continental British colonies were not slow in taking advantage 
of the new outlet for their products which was thus opened up, especially 
as the trade with the French proved to be very profitable. The French 
home market was closed to the importation of rum —which, distilled 
from molasses, was an important by-product of the manufacture of 
sugar — and as a result the French planters were willing to sell their 
molasses much more cheaply than were the British. This molasses was 
eagerly taken by the New England traders in exchange for the usual 
plantation supplies, and was brought back to New England, distilled 
into rum, and used to advantage in exchanging for furs and in the 
African slave trade. 
Most of the trade with the French islands was carried on by direct 
voyages to their ports, and some supphes were furnished in this way 
4 According to Ashley (The British QColonies in America, vol. 1, app. 1, p. 19) the 
re-exports from England during the period under discussion were as follows: 713- 
1715, 18,000 hogsheads a year; 1715-1719, 17,000 hogsheads a year; 1738-1736, 2300 
hogsheads a year; 1737-1739, not more than 450 hogsheads a year. 
