In the 17th century, the fortifications of Honfleur were dismantled in order to build a wet basin according to the orders of Colbert, minister of Louis XIV. Two huge salt lofts (10,000 tons) listed as Historical Monuments since 1916 were also built with the stone of the ramparts. Salt was also a tax, the Gabelle, payable by the people. Royal agents sometimes entered homes to taste the soup. If it was salty, the owners had to pay the tax. The Gabelle was used to finance the Newfoundland cod fishing campaigns.