frefhets, when the ebb continues about two hours longer than the flood; and were it not for the numerous eddies, formed by the indentings of the fhore, the ferries would then be impaffable.

At the lower falls in the feveral branches of the river, are landing places, whence lumber and other country produce is transported, and veffels or boats from below discharge their lading: So that in each river there is a convenient trading place, not more than twelve or fifteen miles diftant from Portsmouth, with which there is conftant communication by every tide. Thus the river, from its form, and the fituation of its branches, is extremely favorable to the purposes of navigation and commerce.

At Dover is an high neck of land between the main branch of Pafcataqua and Back river, about two miles long, and half a mile wide, fifing gently along a fine road, and declining on each fide like a fhip's deck. It commands an extenfive and variegated profpect of the rivers, bays, adjacent fhores, and diftant mountains. It has often been admired by travellers as an elegant fituation for a city, and by military gentlemen for a fortrefs. The first fettlers pitched here, but the trade has long fince been removed to Cochecho-falls, about four miles farther up; and this beautiful fpot is almost deferted of inhabitants.

СНАР.

CHA P. XIII.

сн

Trade, Navigation, Fishery and Manufactures.

THE

'HE firft fpecies of traffic which was known in this country was the fur trade, with the Indians; the next object was fifh;and the third was lumber.

Formerly the banks of the river Pascataqua · were covered with fine timber, which was cut or fplit into any form, and easily conveyed on board fhips. The first fettlers erected fawmills, on the branches of the river'; and a great trade in lumber was driven, for many years. When the neighbouring lands were cleared of the first growth, it was fuppofed that the lumber trade would decline; but it was, and is ftill kept up by many of the people, and is drawn from the diftance of thirty or forty miles, to the heads of the tide, in the branches of the river. It is then conveyed in rafts, or on board large gondolas, to the ships, in different parts of the river, or to the wharves at Portfmouth.

The maft trade was formerly confined to England; all white pine trees of certain dimenfions being deemed the King's property. The contractors and agents made large for

02

tunes

tunes by this traffic; but the labourers who spent their time in the woods, and were fupplied with provision and clothing for themfelves and their families, anticipated their earnings, and were generally kept in a state of poverty and dependance.

Ship building has always been a confiderable branch of bufinefs. European traders often came hither to build fhips, which they could do much cheaper than at home, by the profit made on the goods, which they brought with them. Our own merchants alfo built. fhips of two and three hundred tons ; which were employed in voyages, to the British fugar iflands, with a lading of lumber, fish, oil and live ftock. The cargo was fold, and the produce of the island was fent hither in fmaller veffels, for home confumption; whilft the fhips took a lading of fugars for England, where they were fold; and with the freight remittance (often unprofitable) was made to the merchants of England, for goods imported on credit the preceding year. Other vesfels laden with timber and fpars proceeded directly for the British ports, and were fold with their cargoes, for the fame purpose. The

铲

coafting trade at the Southward, was an exchange of Weft-India commodities for com, rice, flour, pork, and naval ftores; a part of which being re-exported to Newfoundland and Nova-Scotia, produced bills on England

for

for remittance. This was the common routine of trade, before the late revolution; by which the profit of our labour centered with the merchants of England.

The foreign trade, as diftinguished from national, was very inconfiderable. Two or

three veffels in a year would go to the free ports of the French and Dutch Weft-Indies with cargoes of lumber, fish oil and provifions, and bring home molaffes to be distilled into rum, in the only distil-house in New-Hampfhire. One veffel in a year would go to the Azores or the Canaries with pipe ftaves, fith, and other provifions, and return with a cargo of wine, the blance of which was paid in cafh or bills, and sometimes a fhip which had been to England, would get a freight to Lisbon or Cadiz, and return with falt and fruit. This was the fum total of our foreign commerce.* Since

9 months. f

N. B. By foreign Entries and Clearances, are meant all, ex

cept the coafting and fishing veffels.

From Eleazer Ruffell, Efq. Naval-Officer.

Since the revolution, the trade to the British Weft Indies has ceased; but the French and Dutch ports in that quarter, are frequented by our lumber veffels; though the restrictions laid upon certain articles of their produce, render the voyages thither lefs profitable.

For feveral years fucceeding the late war, the partial impofts and impolitic restrictions of our own government, prevented foreign veffels from loading in our port, and a want of capital or of enterprise in the merchants of Pafcataqua, has hitherto kept them from exploring the new fources of commerce which are opened to America by her independence, and which the merchants of other American ports are seeking with avidity. Since the operation of our general goverment, an equal system of impoft has been introduced; and trade is regulated fo as to ferve the general interest of the union. The officers of the customs are appointed by the Executive of the United States; and the revenue arifing from trade and navigation, is applied to national purposes.

That fuch an alteration was wife and falutary, may be evident from confidering the fituation of New-Hampfhire, as well as of fome other States in the union.

New-Hampshire is feated in the bofom of Maffachusetts with a narrow strip of sea coast, and one only port. Her inland country ex

tends