TARE, is an allowance for the outside package, that contains such goods as can not be unpacked without detriment, or for the papers, threads, bands, &c. that inclose or bind any goods imported loose; or, though imported in casks, chests, &e. yet cannot be unpacked and weighed net. Several sorts of goods have their tares ascertained, and those are not to be al tered or deviated from, in any case, with in the port of London, unless the mer chant, thinking himself, or the officers of the crown, to be prejudiced by such tares, shall desire that the goods may be unpacked, and the net-weight taken ; Which may be done either by weighing the goods in each respective cask, &c. net, or, (as is practised in Fast India goods particularly) by picking out seve ral casks, &c. of each size, and making an average, compute the rest accordingly. But this must not be done without the consent of two surveyors, attested by their hands in the land-waiter's books ; and in the out-ports, not without the con sent of the collector and surveyor. And as to those goods which have not their tares ascertained, two surveyors in Lon don, and the collector and surveyor in the out-ports are to adjust and allow the same, in like manner. Sometimes the
'tasks, &c. are weighed beyond sea, be fore the goods are put in ; and the weight Of each respective cask, &c. marked thereon (as is usual for most goods im ported from the British plantations,) or else inserted in the merchant's invoice ; in which case, if the real invoice be pro duced, and the officers have satisfied themselves (by unpacking and weighing some of them) that those weights are just and true, they do then, after having reduced them to British weight, esteem them to be the real tares, and pass them accordingly. But the unpacking goods, and taking the net weight, being sup posed the justest method, both for the crown and merchant, it is usually prac tised in the port of London, in all cases where it can be clone with conveniency, and without detriment to the goods.