The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-09-21
CAPT. "SOL" JACOBS.
Some Particulars of His Adventurous
Caroor

Some Particulars of His Adventurous
Career.
Mention was made last week that Sol
Jacobs the best known fishing skipper in
New England had filed petition in bank
ruptcy. Of all the Captains Courage
GUS" of Gloucester, Jacobs may be ac-
counted one of the elect "Sol" Jacobs
is the way many people know him.;
''Mackerel King" and killer" among
the more technically informed about the
fishing trade, tribute to a long life in
pursuit of finny booty, not only almost
invariably successful, but of command
ing interest.
He came to Gloucester 40 years ago
from Twillingate, N. F., jumped immed-
lately to the forefront in the fisheries
and has Wrested three fortunes from the
sea and lost them. Of indomitable spirit
and pluck, it would be rash man who
would venture to say that Capt Sol is
down and out for good and will not come
back.
He first won fame in the Georges cod
fishery in the schooner Samuel R. Lane
in the early sos. On his first voyage he
astonished the fishing interests and broke
all records in that fishery, landing more
than 100, 600 pounds of sailed fish.
About that time the purse seine came
into vogue in mackerel fishing and he
captured the coveted honor both of land
ing the first fare in New York and max
ing the high line stock of the season, his
usual average being $780, 900, and on one
occasion, in the steamer Alice M. Jacobs,
1000
Always ready to blaze out new path
ways, he spied out the untried waters of
Boring seas both for fur seal and halibut,
fitted out the schooners Mollie Adams
and Edward E. Webster and with crew
of picked men tackled the fish of the
Arctic. But he ran up against the fed
eral officials, being driven from the Ber-
ing sea grounds and the rookeries at
Pribylof islands, besides stirring up
lawsuit with fur dealers at Victoria,
B. C.
His vessels were sold at sacrifice and
he returned to Gloucester poorer man
financially, but rich in energy. He had
his old-time luck in just ordinary fishing,
but signing for new worlds he tried
mackerel seining on the Irish coast. The
Dingle and Skibbereen fishermen were
astonished at the new method of fishing
when they saw Capt. Jacobs take $50
barrels of fish in one day.
The British authorities at Liverpool,
on the complaint of the Irish fishermen,
seized the vessel for alleged violation
of the three-mile limit law, but the
court acquitted him and released the
vessel. A few weeks after her release
the Jacobs was cast ashore on the Irish
coast and was total loss. The crew
was saved.
He built the first gasolene auxiliary
fishing schooner in the north Atlantic
fisheries, which he named the Helen
Miller Gould. Looked upon as dubious
experiment at the time, this type of
power and sail fishing schooner has be-
come quite generally adopted. After
three years career in this vessel she
came to an untimely end at Sydney har-
Dor, c. B., her gasolene tank exploding,
the vessel being burned but the crew
saved.
His story told at length would be a
catalog of vessels credited with records
in the business. Once he was an inter-
national figure when his seine, filled with
herring, was destroyed by irate New
foundlanders. Diplomatic red tape was
unwound and finally the British govern
ment paid an indemnity. He was dele
gate to the convention that nominated
Mckinley and has recently been warm
advocate of reciprocity.
Capt. Jacobs is a man of marked Soc
ial traits and an appeal to him for funds
from any source almost invariably met
with generous response. The news of
his embarrassment was received every
where with regret. The hope is express
ed that he will come back strong and
duplicate his former successes.