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improved。 By allowing to American cattle； in all shapes； dead or
alive； a very extensive market； the law endeavors to raise the
value of a commodity of which the high price is so very essential
to improvement。 The good effects of this liberty； however； must
be somewhat diminished by the 4th of George III； c。 15； which
puts hides and skins among the enumerated commodities； and
thereby tends to reduce the value of American cattle。
To increase the shipping and naval power of Great Britain；
by the extension of the fisheries of our colonies； is an object
which the legislature seems to have had almost constantly in
view。 Those fisheries； upon this account； have had all the
encouragement which freedom can give them； and they have
flourished accordingly。 The New England fishery in particular
was； before the late disturbances； one of the most important；
perhaps； in the world。 The whale…fishery which； notwithstanding
an extravagant bounty； is in Great Britain carried on to so
little purpose that in the opinion of many people （which I do
not； however； pretend to warrant） the whole produce does not much
exceed the value of the bounties which are annually paid for it；
is in New England carried on without any bounty to a very great
extent。 Fish is one of the principal articles with which the
North Americans trade to Spain； Portugal； and the Mediterranean。
Sugar was originally an enumerated commodity which could be
exported only to Great Britain。 But in 1731； upon a
representation of the sugar…planters； its exportation was
permitted to all parts of the world。 The restrictions； however；
with which this liberty was granted； joined to the high price of
sugar in Great Britain； have rendered it； in a great measure；
ineffectual。 Great Britain and her colonies still continue to be
almost the sole market for all the sugar produced in the British
plantations。 Their consumption increases so fast that； though in
consequence of the increasing improvement of Jamaica； as well as
of the Ceded Islands； the importation of sugar has increased very
greatly within these twenty years； the exportation to foreign
countries is said to be not much greater than before。
Rum is a very important article in the trade which the
Americans carry on to the coast of Africa； from which they bring
back negro slaves in return。
If the whole surplus produce of America in grain of all
sorts； in salt provisions and in fish； had been put into the
enumeration； and thereby forced into the market of Great Britain；
it would have interfered too much with the produce of the
industry of our own people。 It was probably not so much from any
regard to the interest of America as from a jealousy of this
interference that those important commodities have not only been
kept out of the enumeration； but that the importation into Great
Britain of all grain； except rice； and of salt provisions； has；
in the ordinary state of the law； been prohibited。
The non…enumerated commodities could originally be exported
to all parts of the world。 Lumber and rice； having been once put
into the enumeration； when they were afterwards taken out of it；
were confined； as to the European market； to the countries that
lie south of Cape Finisterre。 By the 6th of George III； c。 52；
all non…enumerated commodities were subjected to the like
restriction。 The parts of Europe which lie south of Cape
Finisterre are not manufacturing countries； and we were less
jealous of the colony ships carrying home from them any
manufactures which could interfere with our own。
The enumerated commodities are of two sorts： first； such as
are either the peculiar produce of America； or as cannot be
produced； or at least are not produced； in the mother country。 Of
this kind are molasses； coffee； cocoa…nuts； tobacco； pimento；
ginger； whalefins； raw silk； cotton…wool； beaver； and other
peltry of America； indigo； fustic； and other dyeing woods；
secondly； such as are not the peculiar produce of America； but
which are and may be produced in the mother country； though not
in such quantities as to supply the greater part of her demand；
which is principally supplied from foreign countries。 Of this
kind are all naval stores； masts； yards； and bowsprits； tar；
pitch； and turpentine； pig and bar iron； copper ore； hides and
skins； pot and pearl ashes。 The largest importation of
commodities of the first kind could not discourage the growth or
interfere with the sale of any part of the produce of the mother
country。 By confining them to the home market； our merchants； it
was expected； would not only be enabled to buy them cheaper in
the plantations； and consequently to sell them with a better
profit at home； but to establish between the plantations and
foreign countries an advantageous carrying trade； of which Great
Britain was necessarily to be the centre or emporium； as the
European country into which those commodities were first to be
imported。 The importation of commodities of the second kind might
be so managed too； it was supposed； as to interfere； not with the
sale of those of the same kind which were produced at home； but
with that of those which were imported from foreign countries；
because； by means of proper duties； they might be rendered always
somewhat dearer than the former； and yet a good deal cheaper than
the latter。 By confining such commodities to the home market；
therefore； it was proposed to discourage the produce； not of
Great Britain； but of some foreign countries with which the
balance of trade was believed to be unfavourable to Great
Britain。
The prohibition of exporting from the colonies； to any other
country but Great Britain； masts； yards； and bowsprits； tar；
pitch； and turpentine； naturally tended to lower the price of
timber in the colonies； and consequently to increase the expense
of clearing their lands； the principal obstacle to their
improvement。 But about the beginning of the present century； in
1703； the pitch and tar company of Sweden endeavoured to raise
the price of their commodities to Great Britain； by prohibiting
their exportation； except in their own ships； at their own price；
and in such quantities as they thought proper。 In order to
counteract this notable piece of mercantile policy； and to render
herself as much as possible independent； not only of Sweden； but
of all the other northern powers； Great Britain gave a bounty
upon the importation of naval stores from America； and the effect
of this bounty was to raise the price of timber in America much
more than the confinement to the home market could lower it； and
as both regulations were enacted at the same time； their joint
effect was rather to encourage than to discourage the clearing of
land in America。
Though pig and bar iron too have been put among the
enumerated commodities； yet as； when imported from America； they
were exempted from considerable duties to which they are subject
when imported from any other country； the one part of the
regulation contributes more to encourage the erection of furnaces
i