into that part of Great Britain called Scotland, from the year 1760 to the year 1775, and the quantity exported from Scotland in the same period; distinguishing the exports and imports in each particular year; and also,

A particular account of the Expense of collecting and managing the Revenue of Customs in Scotland, for three years, eliding 10th October, 1773; distinguishing each year.

Ordered, That the said Accounts do lie upon the table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

Mr. Tomkyns, from the Commissioners of the Customs, presented to the House, pursuant to their orders,

An Account of the quantity of Corn and Flour exported from that part of Great Britain called England, to the Sugar Colonies, for ten years past, viz: from Christmas, 1763, to Christmas, 1773; which is as far as the same can be made up; and also,

An Account of the quantity of Train Oil and Blubber imported into England, from Christmas, 1772, to Christmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can be made up; distinguishing the countries from which the same have been imported; and also,

An Account of the quantity of Rape Seed and Rape Oil imported into England, from Christmas, 1772, to Christmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can be made up, distinguishing the countries from which the same have been imported; and also,

An Account of the Value of Goods exported from that part of Great Britain called England, to Ireland, from Christmas 1772, to Christmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can be made up.

Ordered, That the said Accounts do lie upon the table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

The Order of the Day being read;

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to consider further of the Bill to restrain the Trade and Commerce of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New-Hampshire, and Colonies of Connecticut and Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantation, in North America, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Islands in the West Indies; and to prohibit such Provinces and Colonies from carrying on any Fishery on the banks of Newfoundland, or other places therein to be mentioned, under certain conditions, and for a time to be limited;

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Charles Whitworth took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Charles Whitworth reported from the Committee, that they had gone through the Bill, and made several amendment thereunto, which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be received upon Monday morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. Benjamin Lister and Mr. George Davis do attend this House upon Monday morning next, when the said Report is ordered to be received, in order to be examined touching the Petition of the Merchants, Traders, and principal inhabitants of the Town and County of Poole.

MONDAY, March 6, 1775.

Sir Charles Whitworth, according to order, reported from the. Committee of the Whole House, to whom the Bill to restrain the Trade and Commerce of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New-Hampshire, and the Colonies of Connecticut and Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantation, in North America, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Islands in the West Indies; and to prohibit such Provinces and Colonies from carrying on any Fishery on the banks of Newfoundland, or other places therein to be mentioned, under certain conditions, and for a time to be limited, was committed, the amendments which the Committee had made to the Bill, and which they had directed him to report to the House; and he read the Report in his place, and afterwards delivered the Bill, with the amendments, in at the Clerk's table, where the Report was read.

And Mr. Benjamin Lister, one of the persons who was ordered to: attend this House upon the report of the said Bill, in order to be examined touching the Petition of the Merchants, Traders, and the principal inhabitants of the Town and County of Poole, was called in, and at the Bar examined relative thereto.

Mr. Lister says he is a Merchant trading to Newfoundland; has traded thither for thirty-eight years.

Q. Can the foreign markets be supplied, if the New England Fishery is stopped?

A. They certainly may.

Q. What is your reason for saying so?

A. We can extend the Fisheries to any degree, having Men, Money, and Ships to carry it on?

Q. What number of Ships are now employed in the British Newfoundland Fishery?

A. About four hundred sail, burthen about thirty-six thousand tons; upwards of two thousand Fishing Shallops, burthen twenty thousand tons more.

Q. What number of Men are now employed in that trade?

A. About twenty thousand.

Q. What number of those return yearly to Great Britain and Ireland?

A. About twelve thousand.

Q. What number of green Men are taken out yearly?

A. Three thousand and upwards.

Q. How many quintals of Fish are taken annually?.

A. Above six hundred thousand quintals.

Q. What is the value of each quintal, on an average of seven years, at market?

A. About fourteen Shillings per quintal.

Q. What other advantages arise from the British Newfoundland Fishery, besides the Cod Fishery?

A. Salmon, Cod Oil, Seal Oil, and Furs.

Q. What quantity of Salmon?

A. Three thousand tierces and upwards.

Q. What are they worth per tierce at market?

Q. Three Pounds five Shillings per tierce, or something more.

Q. What quantity of Cod Oil is made?

A. Three thousand tons.

Q. What is it worth per ton?

A. On an average, twenty-three Pounds per ton.

Q. What quantity of Seal Oil?

A. About eight hundred tons yearly.

Q. What is it worth per ton?

A. Twenty-five Pounds per ton.

Q. What is the value of the Seal Skins and Furs, per annum?

A. Between three and four thousand Pounds; but the quantity of Seal Skins might be more but for the heavy duty here, which amounts to a prohibition. For which reason so many are not brought to this market as otherwise would be, but they are carried to New England and there manufactured into Leather for Shoes, Boots, &c., and carried back to Newfoundland.

Q. In what manner are the returns made for the produce of the British Newfoundland Cod Fishery?

A. Some part in the produce of the country to which the Fish is sent, and some in specie; others in raw materials, Silk, Oil, Barilla, Cotton, and Bills of Exchange.

Q. In what manner do they carry on the Fishery in the time of war?

A. In a much less degree than in time of peace, on account of the Men being impressed; a great many go to New England to avoid being impressed, and are employed in the Fishery there, from whence they do not return.

Q. You said that twenty thousand Men are employed yearly in this Fishery, how happens it that only twelve thousand of those return to Great Britain or Ireland?

The other eight thousand remain in Newfoundland, and are employed in building Boats, Shallops, in catching Furs, and in the Seal Fishery, which is carried on in the Winter.

Q. The residence then, you think, of the eight thousand Men there is necessary for carrying on the British Fishery?

A. Yes, I think it is.

Q. Whether the Ships fitted out for the Newfoundland Fishery, from Great Britain, are not fitted out at one-third more expense than those from North America?

Q. I am no judge of the matter.

Q. How many Men are employed to one hundred ton of Shipping, on an average?