916 DEANE PHILLIPS 
ever, were in the nature of a disposal of an already existing surplus of 
horses. But with the settlement of Rhode Island and Connecticut these 
regions soon adopted the raising of horses for export as a regular source 
of income, and their ports at length came to displace those on Massa- 
chusetts Bay as leaders in the trade. 
Some of the reasons for the development of the industry in the newer 
regions have already been indicated. The broader and more level low- 
lands, extensive salt marshes to furnish hay, lagoons and ponds to serve 
as natural boundaries for the pastures, all combined to give these regions 
an advantage. To this should be added the fact that much of this 
abundant marsh and other forage was easily accessible for boats, which 
could make their way into the numberless small streams and inlets and 
there be loaded with little difficulty... This was a matter of no small 
gain when it is remembered how difficult it would have been to trans- 
port such a bulky commodity as hay over the rough frontier roads of 
the period. Forage of some sort was a very necessary part of the cargo 
of the vessels carrying horses to the Indies, for the horses must be 
fed in transit, and the hay, even though it was commonly pressed into 
rough bales (129), was an unwieldly article to handle; while the horses 
themselves, if necessary, could be driven long distances to the point 
of embarkation. 
The development of horse raising as an industry in Rhode Island and 
Connecticut went hand in hand with the development of the commerce 
of these colonies with the sugar islands. Its extent, however, must 
mainly be inferred from mention of it in the reports of the various 
governors to the Lords of Trade in London and from such fragmentary 
records of actual shipments as are available. 
EXPORTATIONS FROM RHODE ISLAND PORTS 
The Rhode Island ports were the first in the new region to embark in 
the export trade, and even as early as 1681 horses are mentioned by 
Governor Sanford as one of the ‘* principall matters of export ’’ (130). 
In the next twenty years the shipping had increased ‘‘ sixfold ’’ and 
horses were being sent to Jamaica, Barbados, Nevis, Antigua, St. 
8 As early as 1749, hay was being shipped from the region by boat to other places 
in New England which were less well supplied. (Elliot, Essays upon Field Husbandry, 
20, p: 2.) 
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