TRADE, BOARD or. A department of gov ernment in England designated "the lords of the committee of his Majesty's Privy Council ap pointed for the consideration of all matters re lating to trade and foreign plantations." Crom well in 1655 was the first to establish a perma nent committee for matters of trade. Charles II. continued the policy and in 1660 created two separate councils for trade and for foreign plan tations, which in 1672 were consolidated into one. In 17S6 the present department was established as a permanent committee of the Privy Council. The Board as now constituted consists of a presi dent who is a member of the Cabinet, together with the First Lord of the Treasury, the Chancel lor of the Exchequer. and numerous other ex officio members; but, like the Treasury Board, the Board of Trade does not meet, and consists in practice of the president and his staff. it com
prises the following. departments: (1) The com mercial, labor, and statistical department, whose principal function is the collection and dissemi nation of information concerning matters of trade. Since 1886 it has published the Board of Trade Journal. ( 2 ) The railway department, established in 1840, with numerous duties of supervision and inspection. (3) The marine de partment, established in 1850. which has general supervision over merchant shipping and the care of seamen. (4) The harbor departmeet, whose province includes besides lighthouses, harbors, etc., weights and measures, coinage, and other miscellaneous matters. (5) The finance depart ment, which keeps the accounts for the Board and audits fur Parliament the reports of the life insurance companies. (6) The fisheries depart ment.