“How do we measure the commodity flows of the Sound Toll records”,

Yrjö Kaukiainen on the recently published book by Werner Scheltjens. Read the piece in open access at this link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/08438714241238076

Werner Scheltjens has estimated the commodity flows through the Sound by converting the original measures of the Sound Toll records into metric tons. The note discusses the merits and problems of this approach. It points out that weight units are not the best parameters from the viewpoint of shipping since the weight of the goods is poorly related to the actual requirement of shipping space.

The burden of complexity: Dealing with measurement and taxation in the Sound Toll registers – a response to Yrjö Kaukiainen

Werner Scheltjens replies to a research note outlining a method for the conversion of weights and measures in the Danish Sound Toll registers. Whereas Yrjö Kaukiainen argues that the use of values for Danish units of measurement is sufficient, Werner Scheltjens highlights the complexity of pre-modern weights and measures, and raises concerns about the simplification of the measurement and taxation procedures at the customs office in the Danish Sound.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/08438714241238660