The manner of the Scituation of Great Yarmouth, and of its Trade and Buildings.
WIthin a mile, on the East of the Town, is the Main Ocean: on the North-West, the River Brayden; where three Rivers (Wavenee, which parts the Counties of Norfolk, and Suffolk; Yare, which runs thorow the City of Norwich; the Bure, which comes from the North-parts of Norfolk) meet: from whence this River falls East and by South; and before it runs into the Sea, continues its course on the Key of Yarmouth. By these Rivers, to the Land-ward, all the Country-Growths and Manufactures are with little charge brought to Yarmouth: and up these streams, these Countries are furnished with Forrein and Domestick Commodities at reasonable Rates, by reason the Flux of the Sea doth make the current into the Country almost equal with the current out of the Country.
As the Town is naturally scituated with these advantages for the Trade of these Countries, above any of the Eastern Coast: so it lies in the same Latitude as Amsterdam; and by consequence, more conveni∣ent then any other Town on the Eastern Coast of England for the Trade of the Ʋnited Netherlands and Flanders, and almost equal with Hull and Newcastle for the Trade of Hamborough, the Hance-Towns, the Baltick and Norway. It is moreover inriched above any Town in England, or perhaps in the World, with a yearly Revenue of the Fishing-trade; which if it were managed and improved to the best ad∣vantage, might far exceed the Dutch Fishing trade. But this for many years, by reason of this Towns appropriating the Trade to a few hands, hath both rendred this Trade useless to the rest of this Nation, besides the Free-men of Yarmouth, who have not Vessels enough to maintain the same; and have by this means given the Dutch an opportunity of being the greatest gainers by it, who have for many years last past brought over their Busses, and other Fishing Vessels, and have taken the Herrings on this Coast, and brought the same into Yarmouth, and sold the same to them for ready money; which money might as well have been got by our selves, and kept at home.
This place, although so naturally and advantagiously seated for Trade, yet it is no way conveniently built for it: the back-part thereof being so narrowly built in Lanes and Rows, as that there can be no access made to it, but by Barrows, used no where in England but in this place, and for this reason on∣ly. Besides, the houses are built so low, as also being straightned for Warehouse-room, they cannot re∣ceive such quantities of Merchandise as their Trade is capable of. And although the houses to the Key are fair and well built, yet they are not of sufficient capacity to entertain the fourth part of such Mer∣chants as might trade upon the account of this Harbour; neither have they the conveniencies of fresh water. Notwithstanding which, by reason of the advantages aforesaid, they have and do flourish in Trade above any Town in England, but London and Bristol; which they are able to do upon their own account, without any dependency on any other place.