Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/476

 per ton levied on every ship they purchased from a foreign country was insignificant, the restrictions, imposed on all materials necessary for the construction and equipment of vessels in their own country, were of a harassing and vexatious character. The measure in itself was good, but various classes of Protectionists, fearing that numerous articles might be imported which could be used for other than shipbuilding purposes, and thus interfere with their own particular branches of trade, had influence enough with the Legislature to obtain the issue of another decree on the 8th June following, which nullified*