Large quantities of salt were from time to time lost in the Severn, as the vessels laden with that commodity were making their way down the river from Worcester, owing to strong tides and violent winds; and the rolls record frequent applications to the Court "for certificates to entitle them (the owners) to such allowance as the act of Parliament permits." These allowances were no doubt the return of a part or the whole of the very heavy duty then levied on salt. By the 21st George III, chap. 58, and 26th George III, chap. 43, certain bounties were offered for the cultivation of hemp and flax. Nevertheless, England has never grown a sufficient quantity for its own consumption, farmers not regarding it with favour, owing to the supposed exhaustive nature of the crop. In Worcestershire, for 1782 and some following years, claims were made (and allowed by Quarter Sessions) for these bounties, by-- Jos. Cooper the elder } All Saints, Evesham Jos. Cooper the younger } (grown by them at Bretforton, Great Hampton, Fladbury, Pershore, Honeybourne, Cropthorne, and the Littletons). John Taylor of Bromsgrove. Henry Ellins of Stoke Prior, at Rushock, Doverdale, Bromsgrove, Stoke, and Hanbury. Thomas Brooks, Droitwich, at Doverdale. John Tolley of Stoke, at Tardebigg and Hanbury. Jos. Rose, Bromsgrove. George Dunklin, ditto. William Moore, Tardebigg. Jos. Downing, Bromsgrove. James Andrews, Pershore. John Corbyn, Tardebigg. James Heynes, Alvechurch. William Shepherd, ditto. Eliz. Eaves, ditto. Edw. Pearkes, ditto. Thomas Overton, Tardebigg. Jos. Duffill, Bromsgrove. H. D. Humphries, ditto. Jos. Rose, ditto. William Hutchins, Wick, Pershore. John Tolley, Stoke. Clement Nash, Stoke. William Tay, Kingsnorton. Jos. Everill, Tenbury. Jos. Downing, Belbroughton. Thomas Brookes, Droitwich. From 1787 to 1792 the Worcestershire claims for flax bounty amounted to £79. 8s. 10d., and these were allowed. Tobacco also was an article of which the Court of Quarter Sessions took cognisance, and some interesting particulars relative to the growth and suppression of "the weed" in Worcestershire will be found in another part of this work. In the year 1670 the grand jury presented Henry Sandalls, bailiff of Bewdley, "who hath toll of the market, for upholding unjust measures;" Elias Arch, bailiff of Kidderminster, ditto; Thomas Foley, Esq., "who receives the benefit of the toll of Stourbridge, for not providing a brass measure according to act of Parliament, and for not making the measures of the town according to the same; and that the justices do take into consideration the great abuse that the people of this county which resort to this city of Worcester to market do receive by unjustness of the measures, and by the jogging and shaking of the same;" and suggesting various rewards for the capture of several known offenders.