5072. MARKETS, Fish oil.—[further continued] .
England is the market
for the greatest part of our spermaceti oil.
They impose on all our oils a duty of eighteen
pounds five shillings sterling the ton, which,
as to the common kind, is a prohibition,
* * * and as to the spermaceti, gives a
preference of theirs over ours to that amount,
so as to leave, in the end, but a scanty benefit
to the fishermen; and, not long since, by a
change of construction, without any change
of law, it was made to exclude our oils from
their ports, when carried in our vessels. On
some change of circumstance, it was construed
back again to the reception of our oils,
on paying always, however, the same duty
of eighteen pounds five shillings. This serves
to show that the tenure by which we hold the
admission of this commodity in their markets,
is as precarious as it is hard. Nor can it
be announced that there is any disposition on
their part to arrange this or any other commercial
matter to mutual convenience.—
Report on the Fisheries. Washington ed. vii, 552.
(1791)
