The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-02-08

where she had been marooned-pre-
sumably to drown at the flooding oil
the tide, in the little" while home
ward bound from the Gulf of st Law
renee.
PROVINCETOWN INCORPORATED
IN 1727.
The business began there, doubt
less in the second quarter of the 18th
century, shortly following the towns
Incorporation, 1927. but whatever the
date the business continued to be the
towns principal industry, until about
1890.
From its inception until the late
SOS of the last century the business
proved mainly successful, but periods
of fish scarcity were not unknown
In 1902 the eight men of the schoon-
er John, &C tons, were engaged 10
weeks on the Grand banks procuring
cargo of 500 quintals of cod while
in the following year the same vessel
fished % weeks on the same field be-
fore completing loading.
As early as 1903 Proyincetown yes
sells secured cargoes of cod at Labra-
dor and continued to do so every sue
cessiye season until the outbreak of
the war of 1872, when the vessels
We're laid up, their crews engaging in
shore fishing in small boats At the
close of that war the vessels were re-
engaged in the foreign codnshery.
Only one vessel went to Labrador in
1873. The rest of the town fleet went
to the Grand Banks. They found cod
very abundant Some of them made
two, some three, voyages that sea-
SON. which proved a period of pros
perity, in marked contrast to the
lean years Of the warning period The
largest vessel belonging to the port at
that time was the schooner Neptune
IS tons, carrying eight men She
made two trips that season, taking
200 quintals cod on one trip that last
ed only u weeks and three days.
FLEET INCREASED IN 1876.
The year 1916 saw the fleet increas-
ed by several sail. The fleet found
fish less plentiful than on the year
next preceding. In 1917 the fleet
went again to the Grand Banks, but
found less fish than in 1916. Again in
the succeeding year they tried that
field, but the fishing proved failure,
so. after spending few weeks there,
they proceeded 10 the Gulf of st. Law
renee and there secured full cargoes.
AS consequence, the town fleet
frcquented Labrador and Gulf of st.
Lawrence waters exclusively for sew
eral years thereafter But in 1924
the Freedom, 81 tons, making a lone
quest at the Grand Banks, met with
rich success. Vessel after vessel
turned that way n succeeding years
and by 1881 big fleet was again fire.
quentlng that ancient fishing ground
and the Labrador field had been
abandoned
In 1885 the schooner, Lucy Mary.
Atwood, master - tons, six men, fish
ed only six weeks ON the Grand Banks.
but secured her full complimentary
quintals when dried for market
From that time until a quarter cen
fury ago the Grand Banks fishery was
extensively prosecuted by local fleets.
BIGGEST FLEET SAILED ~ 1867
The biggest ileet, numerically. sail
ed in 1867, probably. In that year
81 schooners. OF which IS went to the
Grand Banks and Il to the Gulf of st
Lawrence, represented Proyincetown
in the salt cod6shery. They brought
home 1867 quntals of sailed cod
and 1886 Quintals of sailed halibut.
To show thai the fleet was a sizable
one in other years 1t is stated that G5
vessels were engaged in 1852, 81 in
1853. 81 in 1874 and SO in 1855. while
in 1876. following a period of moder-
ate reyerses, only SO vessels were en-
gagged at the work.
Then there occurred a revival of the
industry and the biggest feet, tonnage
considered, ever locally engaged went
out in the years from 1879 TO 1886 In
elusive.
That feet numbered no more than
60 sail, but they were fine and new,
mostly, and capable of bearing double
the cargoes OF the older fleet, they
averaging 24O0 quntals capacity and
carrying crews Of from lG to 30 men.
the early SOS were prolific years,
certain hanks notably Ouereau Welded