General History of Connecticut, from Its First Settlement Under George Fenwick to its Latest Period of Amity with Great BritainPeters, Samuel
History
General History of Connecticut, from Its First Settlement Under George Fenwick to its Latest Period of Amity with Great Britain
Peters, Samuel
Connecticut -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; Connecticut -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
Consequences very prejudicial attend the commerce of Connecticut, thus
principally carried on through the medium of the neighbouring
colonies. I will here point out one material instance: Connecticut
pork, a considerable article of exportation, excels all others in
America, and fetches a halfpenny per pound more. Of this difference in
the price the merchants in New-York, Boston, &c. have taken care to
avail themselves, by mixing their own inferior pork with that of
Connecticut, and then selling the whole at the full price of the
latter. This fair dealing was managed thus: The pork of Connecticut
was packed up in barrels, each of which, according to statute
regulations, must weigh 220 lbs. and contain not more than six legs
and three half heads. The packer is to mark the barrel before it is
shipped, and is liable to a heavy punishment if there should be found
four half heads and seven legs in the barrel when it is delivered for
exportation. But of large pork, two legs and half a head will be a
sufficient proportion of those parts in a barrel. This gives the
New-York and Bostonian merchants an opportunity of taking out the best
part of the Connecticut pork, and substituting in its place an equal
weight of their own, whereby it often happens that four legs and two
half heads are found in a barrel of reputed Connecticut pork. Though
it then remains a barrel according to the statute, it cannot but be
supposed that the practice must greatly hurt the credit of Connecticut
pork with all who are not apprised that it passes through the
renounded provinces of Massachusets-Bay and New-York.
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