286 HISTORY OF THE 



rels, cordage, twine, and high wages. The fale is 

 chiefly in Italy* 



This ancient fifhery is greatly on the decline* 

 chiefly from the advanced price of fifhing materials^ 

 amounting to 25 per cent, and alfo from rivalfhip, of 

 which forne particulars will be given hereafter. 



In 1760, the town of Yarmouth fitted out 205 

 veffels from 30 to 100 tons, which gave employment 

 to above 6000 perfons of both fexes. Upon an 

 average of 21 years previous to that period, there 

 were caught upwards of 47,000 barrels each year, of 

 which 38,000 barrels were exported, at a medium 

 price of 1 8s. per barrel, which produced an annual 

 gain to the nation of 42,300!. befides 203000!. paid 

 at foreign markets, to 40 fhips for freight, and the 

 9000 barrels confumed at home, which added fo 

 much to the national flock of provifions, Between 

 the years 17 60 and 1783, the number of fifhing vefieh 

 hath decreafed from 205 to 94, and the average 

 quantity of herrings caught annually during the lafl 

 fix years, amounted only to 14,000 barrels, of which 

 9335 were exported. 



This fifhery ufed to be frequented by 30 or 46 

 vefTels from Folkflone, Haftings, and other ports ; 

 all of which have of late difappeared, and are fup- 

 pofed to have taken up the trade of fmuggling. 



The effects of this decline of the fifheries are not 

 only feverely felt by the parties immediately con- 

 cerned therein., but by the town at large, where the 

 poor rates have rifen to 95. and upwards in the 

 pound. 



When we confider the many difadvantages under 

 which the Engltfh fifhers labour, from the compa- 

 rative great expence of (hip-building, fifhing mate- 

 rials, feamens v/ages, and the late rivalfhip of fo- 

 reign nations, fome parliamentary aid feems indif- 

 penfibly neceffary, not only to preferve the fifhery 

 from falling into the hands of foreigners, but alfo, 



for 



