Richmond Enquirer

It is well known, that previous to the Revolution in Portugal, the fishermen were liable to a most burdensome exaction. After exposing themselves to all the dangers to which such a life is necessarily subject, they no sooner landed their cargo, than a number of servants from Convents of Friars, some privileged Corporations, &c. flocked round them and demanded their share, and frequently one half of the fish was carried away in this manner, without the fishermen being allowed even to expostulate.

This abuse has long been a subject of complaint, and it caused the comparatively high price at which fish has been always sold in Portugal. The Cortes have now, however, decreed, that all fish caught on the shores of Portugal shall only pay local duties to the amount of eight per cent. and they have exempted the fishermen from all other demands whatever.

The sardines, however, a species of large sprats, on which, owing to their great abundance, the common people chiefly subsist, had been freed from all duties, and the fishermen exempted from being pressed as soldiers, &c. The importation of all foreign salted or fresh fish, had also been prohibited, except cod-fish, which, by the treaty with Great Britain, made in 1810, could not be prohibited. On this article, however, an additional transit duty of ten per cent. had been imposed on all quantities passing into the interior of the country.