Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-04-18
The Gloucester Fishing Interest.

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 $50 sail
Of vessels. On the 1st of January Of
this year, 544 Gloucester vessels were
engaged in fisheries, IS in the foreign
trade, and IA in coasting. Their aggre-
gate tonnage was 29,S54 tons. The pro-
duction of the port for 1871 was as fol-
lows: Quintsls of Goldfish, 29,S54 of
mackerel, for Gloucester and Rockport,
49, $40; barrels of herring, $4,000; and
! about $4,000 quintals of other fish,
principally hake and haddoek. Beside
these the fishermen brought in s 100000
of fresh fish," and produced $4,000
| gallons of fish oils, which are mostly
used for tanning purposes. The whole
value of the products for last year was
S3,600,000, slight decrease since 1870,
when it was So, 724 900, and 1869, when
it was So, 602,500. Eighteen new schoon-
er-built vessels were fitted out in 1871,
with a tonnage of l, 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 500 vessels sailing from
Gloucester, "a were owned in Rockport,
one is owned in Essex, and one in
Manchester. All the others are Glou-
cester owned.
The feet 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 codfsheries
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 comp anies place
their rates so that there is no possibility
Of getting ships insured by them. The
Mutual Insurance Company in Glouces
ter, cooperative concern of consider
able magnitude, effects the majority o
the assurances. 1t was formed exclu
sively for the insurance of Gloueeste
vessels, and only those holding stock il
the company are allowed to obtain in
: surance through it. In this manne1
7 large losses fall heavily upon all, an
the principle of mutual aid is yer.
/: largely encouraged. In some cases out
I side companies have demanded II pc
cent. for insurance, which they of cours
;, have not received. Inasmuch as tn
e valuation of Gloucester is 81, 435, 034, an
the capital invested is nearly ii not quit
100000, it IS not wonderful that tn
< losses which come year after year
+ the fishing feet are heavily felt.
The first fleet which Gloucester senc
= out every year is the Georges" fee
G which begins to fit about the middle
January. This year seventy five vesse
e have gone out, and from $50 to $50 Wi
:, probably make the trip, which usual
Il lasts from four to six weeks.