3 68 
Mr. Abbs's Observations 
In the winter, 1783, I am very credibly informed, and sin- 
cerely believe, that not a ten-thousandth part (I speak much 
within bounds) of the usual quantity was taken; and, I can 
venture to say, the quantity has been not greater, if not much 
less, for the two last seasons, to the great astonishment of the 
poor fishermen. 
I have frequently conversed with the most experienced 
men in this line of business, to discover, if possible, the cause 
of this extraordinary failure. One man, with more religious 
submission than philosophic judgment, ascribes it to the will 
and pleasure of the Almighty ; a second, to the great quantities 
of ballast cast by the colliers into the sea, at or near the 
mouths of the rivers Tyne and Wear. But this seems a very 
inadequate reason ; for granting this act might in some small 
degree affect these places for a few miles, yet it- could not affect 
the coasts at any considerable distance, either to the north or 
south. This last circumstance has in some degree affected 
the lobsters within a few miles of the two rivers, by filling up 
the holes and cavities in or under the rocks, where the lobsters 
used formerly to lie, and retreat to in stormy weather; so that 
being now in a great measure deprived of their old abodes of 
security, they are frequently, in storms and tempests, thrown 
on the shore, shattered and broken in pieces. A third ascribes 
the failure to the great number of dogfish on the coasts ; but I 
suppose the number of them to be nearly the same, year by 
year. The dogfish is very voracious, and a great enemy to 
the fisherman and his tackle, and therefore never spared when 
caught : besides, it is well known that dogfish chiefly pur- 
sue the shoals of herrings, which have left these coasts be- 
fore the haddocks come on. A fourth says, the shoal of haddocks 
