17. And whereas by an act of Parliament, made in the eighth and ninth years of his Majesty’s reign, intituled, _An act for granting to his Majesty a further subsidy of tunnage and poundage upon merchandizes imported, for the term of two years and three quarters, and an additional land tax for one year for carrying on the war against ~France~_; and by another act, made in the ninth and tenth years of his Majesty’s reign, intituled, _An act for granting to his Majesty a further subsidy of tunnage and poundage, towards the raising a yearly sum of seven hundred thousand pounds, for the service of his Majesty’s household, and other uses therein mentioned, during his Majesty’s life_, an additional duty of twelve-pence on every twenty shillings value of all goods and merchandizes imported (all manner of fish _English_ taken excepted) is granted to his Majesty, his heirs and successors: And whereas some doubt hath arisen, whether oil, blubber, and fins, taken and imported by the company of merchants of _London_ trading to _Greenland_, are not liable to the said duty; be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all whale fins, oil, and blubber, taken and imported by the ships of the company of merchants of _London_ trading to _Greenland_, were not nor are intended to be charged or made liable to the duty of twelve-pence for every twenty shillings value of goods imported, charged in the aforesaid acts, but that the whale fins, oil, and blubber, taken and imported as aforesaid, and also all whale fins, oil, and blubber of _English_ fishing, taken in the seas of _Newfoundland_, or any of the seas belonging to any of his Majesty’s plantations or colonies, and imported into this kingdom by any of his Majesty’s subjects in _English_ shipping, were, and are hereby declared to be free of the said duties, as all fish of _English_ taking; the aforesaid acts, or any thing therein contained to the contrary in any-wise notwithstanding. 15 GEO. III. Cap. 31. _An act for the encouragement of the Fisheries carried on from ~Great Britain~, ~Ireland~, and the ~British~ Dominions in ~Europe~, and for securing the return of the fishermen, sailors, and others employed in the said fisheries, to the ports thereof, at the end of the fishing season._ [Sidenote: Preamble. After _Jan. 1, 1776_, bounties to be given to vessels fitted out from _Great Britain_ or _Ireland_ for the _Newfoundland_ fishery, qualified as by act 10 & 11 _Gul._ III. Certificates to be produced to the collector of customs from the governor of _Newfoundland_, of the qualification of ships, _&c._ Masters and mates to make oath. Certificates and oaths to be granted and administered without fee. Collectors of customs to pay the bounties.]