290 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV

There are, however, ſome hopes that trade may revive here, as the carding and ſpinning machinery has been lately introduced with conſiderable ſpirit and perſeverance. Some gentlemen in this town have lately formed a conneion with the patentees poſſleſling the ſecret of making cloth without either ſpinning or weaving; and the ſamples they have ex- hibited gave flattering hopes of ſucceſs.*

Though the trade of‘Taunton has declined, yet con- ſiderable manufadtories are carried on at Wellington, WI- veliſcombe, and other places; and many thouſand hands are employed therein.

It cannot be totally foreign to our purpoſe to mention the ſalmon and herring fiſhery of Porlock, Minehead, and Watchet, which for ſome years paſt has been carried on to ſome conſiderable extent.

The lower claſſes of people have, in conſequence, ob- tained a cheap and wholſome food, particularly ſince the legiſlature has taken off the duty on ſalt uſed in curing the latter of theſe fiſh for home conſumption.

It were to be wiſhed that this fiſhery could be further promoted and encouraged, as it would be a means of fur- niſhing, employ, during the winter, for thoſe ſailors who are engaged in the lime-ſtone, and culm trade, during the ſum- mer months.

Their frequent journies acroſs the Channel make them excellent pilots; and a hardy and ſkilful race of ſailors would occaſionally recruit that grand bulwark of the nation—the Royal Navy.

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*‘This plan of making cloth is now(1797) intirely abandoned—at leaſt, in this and the neighbouring county of Dorſet.

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