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Preamble.

CHAP. XLVIII.

An Act for encouraging the making Tar, and Hemp.

I. WHEREAS the making good and merchantable tar, and hemp, fit for exportation, will be not only beneficial to the inhabitants of this colony, but also, by the supply of such naval stores, advantageous to the navigation and commerce of Great Britain: to the end therefore, that the makers thereof may have suitable encouragement,

II. BE it enacted, by the Lieutenant Governor, CounPremium of cil, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, 2 shillings and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, for every That there shall be paid to the person and persons barrel of tar, and of 4 shil- Who shall make, or cause to be made, good and merlings for chantable tar, made from green trees, prepared after the following manner; that is to say, That when the trees were fit to bark, the bark thereof was stripped eight feet or thereabouts, up from the root of each tree, a slip of the bark about four inches broad being left on one side of each tree; and that each tree, after be allowed being so barked, had stood one year at least, and was the maker. not before that time cut down, for the making of tar;

every 100 Ib. weight of hemp, made according to

directions of this act, to

for tar

and to such person and persons who shall make, or cause to be made, within this colony, hemp, winter or water-rotted, dry, bright, and clean, the several rewards following, to wit, For every barrel of tar, made as before directed, two shillings; and for every gross hundred of hemp, made as aforesaid, four shillings.

III. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforeMethod of said, That before any person shall be entitled to the obtaining the premium said reward for tar, the maker thereof shall deliver a note in writing, specifying the mark and number of each barrel to a justice of peace, of the county where the same was made, and shall, before him, make oath, that the same is good, and merchantable, and according to the directions of this act; and that each barrel doth contain thirty-two gallons of nett tar, and that it was made on his land, in the said county, or at what place, therein particularly describing the same; and that he, nor any other person for him, hath obtained a certificate, or received a reward or premium for the same:

which oath such justice is hereby authorised and required to administer, and to grant a certificate of the same being before him made; and the person intending to export such tar, shall produce such certificate to the naval officer, or collector of the district wherein the same shall be brought for exportation; and also, before him make oath, that the tar he in. tends to export is the same as is mentioned in such certificate: Which the said naval officer, or collector, is hereby required to certify to the governor, or commander in chief of this domirion, for the time being, who is hereby impowered and desired thereupon to issue his warrant, to the treasurer of this colony, for payment of such sum and sums as shall appear due by virtue of this act. And for obtaining the aforesaid premium or reward, upon hemp,

IV. Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, And for That any justice of peace, or constable, of any county hemp. wherein hemp shall be made, may and shall, upon application of the maker or owner thereof, truly weigh all such hemp as to him or them shall be offered, and desired to be weighed, and shall give a certificate to the county court of the true quantity so weighed, and the name of the maker or owner thereof; for which such justice or constable shall have and receive, of such maker or owner, five shillings per ton, and so proportionably for a greater or less quantity; which certificate being produced to such county court, and oath made before them, by the maker or owner, that the hemp therein mentioned was duly weighed; and that, at the time the same was so weighed, it was winter or water-rotted, dry, bright, and clean, and made upon his or her plantation, in such county, or on what plantation the same was made, that he, nor any other person for him, hath obtained a certificate, or received a reward or premium for the same; the clerk of such court shall certify the same to the governor, or commander in chief of this dominion, for the time being; who, upon the party's producing such certificate, is bereby impowered and desired to issue his warrant, to the treasurer of this colony, for the payment of such sum or sums as shall appear to be due, by virtue of this act: And if any person whatsoever shall take a false oath,. in obtaining any certifi Penalty on cate, whereby to entitle him or herself to any premium king a false or reward given by this act, he or she so offending, oath to enti T-Vol. 6.

persons ta

tle them to and being thereof convicted, shall forfeit and pay the rewa s. four times the money obtained, by means of such false oath, to the informer: to be recovered with costs, by action of debt or information, in any court of record where the same shall be cognizable; and moreover, shall suffer as for wilful and corrupt perjury.

Premium to

the trearu

rer, and al

accounts.

V. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforebe paid by said, That the treasurer, of this colony, for the time being, shall be, and is hereby authorised and required, lowed in his out of any public monies in his hands, to pay unto the party or parties entitled thereto, such sum and sums of money as shall be to them ordered, by warrant from the said governor or commander in chief, to bim directed, for the bounties aforesaid, from time to time, in pursuance of this act; to be allowed to the said treasurer upon passing of his accounts, in the General Assembly.

Sums appropriated for the rewards.

Repealing clause.

VI. Provided always, That the rewards for tar shall not exceed twelve hundred pounds, and the rewards for hemp not to exceed four thousand pounds.

VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all and every other act and acts, clause and clauses, heretofore made, for or concerning any matter or thing within the purview of this act, shall be, and are hereby repealed.

Preamble.

CHAP. XLIX.

An Act for Inspecting Pork, Beef, Flour,
Tar, Pitch, and Turpentine.

1. WHEREAS an act of assembly made in the nineteenth year of the reign of his present majesty, intituled, An act for continuing and amending an act, intituled, An act for inspecting, weighing, and stamping all pork, and beef, packed in this colony, or imported for sale, before the same shall be sold here, or shipped for exportation; and to amend the act, intituled, An act for the ascertaing the guage of barrels, for pork, beef, tar, and pitch; and for inspecting, weighing, and stamping all flour exported, will expire at

the end of this session of Assembly: And the same being, by experience, found useful and beneficial to the trade and export of this colony, and necessary to be further continued:

ed.

II. Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant Gover- Inspectors, nor, Council, and Burgesses of this present General As- by whom sembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the and when to same, That no pork, beef, or flour, shall be exported be appointout of this colony; or tar, pitch, or turpentine, exposed to sale, or exported, until the same shall be packed, or filled in barrels, under the regulation herein after expressed: And the justices of every county court, within this dominion, are hereby authorised and required, in the month of August or September, annually, to nominate and appoint, in open court, one or more (not exceeding six in one county) fit and able person or persons, residing in the same county, to inspect the package, and weigh all pork, beef, and flour; and also to inspect the filling of all tar, pitch, or turpentine, packed or filled for sale or exportation, within their respective counties: And the said courts may appoint the same person or persons, to be inspectors of pork, beef, flour, tar, pitch, and turpentine, if such person appears to them duly qualified, or may appoint several inspectors, as in their discretion shall seem best: And every person so appointed, shall, before he enters upon the execution of that office, make Where to be oath before the justices of his county court, carefully to view, inspect, and examine, when required, all pork, beef, flour, tar, pitch, and turpentine, packed, or filled, for sale or exportation, and to the best of his skill and judgment, not to pass or stamp any barrel of pork, or beef, or any flour, pitch, tar, or turpentine, that is not good, clean, sound, merchantable, and of the Their duty weight or guage by this act directed, and faithfully to discharge the duty of his office, without favor, affection, partiality, or other by-respect; and shall constantly attend, upon notice, at such time and place as the owner of any of the said commodities shall appoint, to inspect the same within his county; but shall not inspect or stamp any tar, pitch, or turpentine, or any pork or beef imported from Carolina, until the same shall be brought to some public landing; and shall provide a stamp, or stamps, with the first letter of his county, the letter V for Virginia, the first letter of his own christian name, and his whole sur-name at

sworn.

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And fees.

length, to be stamped on each barrel or cask by him passed; and on every cask or barrel of flour, the gross, tare, and nett weight thereof, and a distinction of the fineness by the words First or Second, stamped on the head; and on every barrel of pork the letter L for large, or the letter S for small pork; and on the head of every barrel of tar, pitch, and turpentine, shall distinguish whether the same be tar, pitch, or turpentine: for which he may demand, and take, for every barrel of pork or beef, by him stamped, six pence; for every barrel of tar, pitch, or turpentine, two pence; for every barrel of flour, containing two hundred and twenty pounds nett, or less, three pence; and for every cask of greater weight, six pence, and no more; to be paid down by the owner. And if any officer so appointed and sworn, shall neglect his duty, or stamp any of the commodities aforesaid, contrary to this act, he shall forfeit and pay twenty shillings, for every barrel of pork or beef; ten shillings for every barrel or cask of flour; and five shillings for every barrel of tar, pitch, or turpentine, which shall be found not duAnd where ly qualified, or of less weight or contents than this recoverable. act requires; and also five shillings for every neglect of his duty, recoverable by the informer, with costs, before a justice of peace of the county where such of fence shall be committed.

Penalty for neglect.

Contents of the barrel

beef.

And of tar, pitch, and turpentine.

1

III. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That every barrel of pork or beef, packed within this colony for sale or exportation, or imported here, shall contain at least two hundred and twenty pounds nett of good, clean, fat, sound, merchantable meat, well salted between each layer, well pickled, nailed, and pegged, and no more than two heads of pork in one barrel; and after the same has been inspected, weighed, found merchantable, and passed by the inspector or inspectors, residing in the county where the same shall be packed or imported, every such barrel shall be by him, or them, stamped or branded, as aforesaid, and certificate thereof given to the owner; and every barrel of tar, pitch, and turpentine, shall contain thirty one gallons and a half, wine measure, at the least; and after the same shall be inspected, guaged, found clean, well, and truly made, merchantable, and passed by the inspector or inspectors of the county where the same shall be inspected, shall be by bim or them stamped or branded, and cer

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