The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-04-19
The Gloucester Fishing Interest.
From the Boston Journal.


About 1000 men are engaged in the
fishing interests Of Gloucester. AS the
population is only some 10000, it is easy
TO see that the fisheries predominant.
OF these 1000 men 5000 go down TO the
sea in ships the rest remain TO look
after the shore interests. Gloucester
sends out every year from $50 to 500 sail
of vessels. On the LIST of January OF
this year, 544 Gloucester vessels were
engaged in fisheries, 46 in the foreign
trade, and "a in coastins. Their aggre-
gate tonnage was DC, S54 tons. The pre-
duction of the port for 1871 was as fol
lows: Quintals of Goldfish, 29,S54 of
mackerel, for Gloucester and Rockport,
1899; barrels of herring, $4,000; and
about $4,000 quintals of other fish,
principally hake and haddock. Beside
these the fishermen brought in 100000
of "fresh fish," and produced $4,000
gallons of fish oils, which are mostly
used fer tanning purposes. The whole
value of the products for last year was
S3,600,OOO, a slight decrease since 1870,
when 1t was 1924 600, and 1869, when
it was S., 1902, 800. Eighteen new schoon-
er-built vessels were fitted out in 1871,
with tonnage of 1877, and 81 were pur
chased. The steamers were also put
into port. Twenty-six vessels were
sold away from Gloucester during the
year, and 81 went down into the waves
thirteen of which were lost with all their
crews. OF the SOC vessels sailing from
Gloucester, II were owned in Rockport,
one is owned in Essex, and one in
Manchester. All the others are Glou-
cester owned.
The fleet is classified, and there are
departures at almost every period of
the year. There is one time during the
winter when about 5000 hardy fellows
throng the streets and hibernate for
three or four weeks. The mackerel
fishing is carried on in the Bay of st.
Lawrence, off the coast of Maine, and in
Long Island Sound; the codlisheTies
flourish most at Georges" the Grand
Bank, and the Western Bank, and hall
but are best found on the Grand and
Western banks.
No business in the country is carried
on at such enormous risks Of life and
property as these fisheries. The loss
also falls directly upon the town itself,
| as outside insurance companies place
their rates so that there is no possibility
of getting ships insured by them. The
Mutual Insurance Company in Glouces-
ter, co operative concern OF consider
able magnitude, effects the majority OF
| the assurances. Ii was formed exclu-
sively for the insurance of Gloucester
vessels, and only those holding stock in
the company are allowed to obtain in.
surance through it. In this manner
large losses fall heavily upon all, and
the principle of mutual aid Is very
largely encouraged. In some cases out
side companies have demanded II per
cent. for insurance, which they of course
have not received. Inasmuch as the
valuation OF Gloucester is S., 49,, 034, and
the capital invested is nearly if not quite
a, 100000, it is not wonderful that the
losses which come year after year tC
the fishing fleet are heavily felt.
The first fleet which Gloucester sends
out every year is the GEORGES" fleet
which begins to fit about the middle o
January. This year seventy-tive vessels
have gone out, and from 80 to $50 vii
probably make the trip, which usual!
lasts from four TO Six weeks.