Dory Scoop, 1880s
notes: label: Description
content: Scoops and bailers are essential tools for fishermen who work out of small boats. Water inevitably finds its way into vessels and bailing becomes a frequent but necessary chore. This scoop, carved out of one piece of wood, was used prior to 1883 by cod fishermen from Gloucester, Massachusetts, to bail out their dories.
label: Description
content: Small, flat-bottomed dories were not used in the American commercial cod fishery until after 1850, when trawl-line fishing expanded. Dories were ideal for the purpose: they could be nested together on the deck of the larger, fishing schooner until needed. On the water, they were light and easy to handle, as well as stable. When fishing long trawl lines, fishermen would leave the relative comforts of the schooners to work in pairs as dorymates. Because they were away from the schooners for many hours, the fishermen carried provisions and gear in the dories, including water, food, oars, a mast and sail, anchors, buoys and markers, several trawl tubs, pen boards for holding the fish, several scoops and bailers, fog horns, a compass, and more.
label: Description
content: This dory scoop was displayed at the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition in London. The United States’ portion of the display was organized by the U.S. Fish Commission and included a wealth of gear, models, photographs, fishery products, and everyday objects used by American fishermen. The international exhibition was on view between May 12 and November 1, during which a daily average of 18,545 people toured the buildings and grounds. When the exhibition closed, the collections that represented the United States were sent to the Smithsonian Institution and a catalog was published: <i>Descriptive Catalogues of the Collections Sent from the United States to the International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883, Constituting A Report Upon the American Section.</i> Prepared under the direction of G. Brown Goode, U.S. Commissioner, and a staff of associates. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1884.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Massachusetts, Gloucester
topic: label: used
content: Whaling
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Fisheries
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content: Work
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
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content: Natural Resources
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Brown, James Temple. The Whale Fishery and Its Appliances
label: Related Publication
content: Catalogue of Collection, International Exhibit, 1876
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: S. Elwell, Jr.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AG.025222
label: catalog number
content: 025222
objectType: label: Object Name
content: dory scoop
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 12 in x 6 in; 30.48 cm x 15.24 cm