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COAL MIKES OF

The same duties affect the coals from Sun-derland, except the town’s dues which aregreater than those at Newcastle. In 17 47 thecommissioners of the town were empoweredby Act of Parliament to levy one penny half-penny per chaldron on the coal owners; andone halfpenny per chaldron on the fitters, forall coals exported from thence, in aid of thenecessary repairs of the town, and the preser-vation of the harbour.

In 1785 this duty was increased to three-pence per chaldron upon coal owners, and onepenny per chaldron on fitters, making a towncharge of four-pence per chaldron. And in1808 it was further increased to four pencehalfpenny on owners, and one penny half-penny on fitters, making the town charge six-pence per chaldron.

The Newcastle chaldron is nearly equal totwo London chaldrons, as it contains sixty-eight Winchester bushels ; the London chal-dron containing only thirty-six bushels of thesame measure.* And by the foregoing statementit appears that the exportations from the Tyneand Wear at this time average one million

* In 1655 it was agreed that 136 Newcastle chaldronsshould equal 217 London chaldrons, which was confirmedby Parliament in 1667.