TRADE.
The trade of this town was formerly very considerable. Fifty or sixty years ago they had vessels which traded from hence up the Straits ; the fishery was then much more considerable than it is now, especially the herring, of which great quantities were dried and exported. It has already been seen by the ancient charters, that boats went from thence during the herring season to Yarmouth, there to catch and dry their fish. They used likewise to go to the North Foreland and Margate for the same purpose, though that custom has been long dropped; and, for several years past, a number of large boats come annually from Brighton to Hastings, where they stay the season, to catch and sell their fish. Within the last thirty years, the fisheries have very much declined, though there are now great quantities of herrings, mackerel, and trawl-fish caught, and sent to the London markets in carts, as well as supplying the country around ; besides about 1500 barrels of herrings, of about 800 to the barrel, that are annually dried, and sent to the different markets, where, from their superior -
