 Young, writing in 1794, recorded that there had been serious breaches of the banks in 1777, which had resulted in the ruin of many of the proprietors.However, a machine called "the bear" had been used to dredge the bottoms of the rivers, and in 1782, servants of the former proprietors had bought plots of land at reduced prices, which had proved to be profitable.He noted that one estate, bought for £200, could be sold for £2,000, following the completion of better banks and mills.