304 HISTOIJV AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



" THE BLACKFISH AT WKLLPLEET. Mr. Cook, of ProvincetowD, who purchased the black- 

 fish captured by Wellflcet fishermen a few days since, is in this city to-day and states that probably 

 1,0(10 barrels of oil will be obtained from the lot. It was the largest school of blackfish that was 

 ever driven on the cape, and another remarkable circumstance is that there was only about a 

 dozen calves among the lot of over seven hundred."* 



1873. 



"Ninety-three blacktisli, yielding 100 barrels of oil, were taken in December at Scitnate, near 



Sandwich. Mass."t 



1874. 



; ' In the clearing up of a snow-storm at Friendship, Me., one morning last week, the, people 

 living round the harbor were astonished to see it literally filled with blackfish. In a very short 

 time every l>at and dory was manned by hardy fishermen, who rowed to the mouth of the harbor, 

 forming a line from shore to shore, and then commenced driving the fish slowly up the harbor, and 

 through a narrow passage into Shipyard Cove. Then the work of killing them commenced. There 

 were one hundred and eighty-one fish slaughtered, the largest 10 feet long, and probably weighing 

 2 tons; the smallest at least 10 feet; probable average length, 15 feet. It is estimated that they 

 will make lf>o barrels of oil, the blubber filling the decks of three large schooners. The oldest fish- 

 ermen there never saw a blackfish that side of George's Island before." 



"LARGE SCHOOL OP BLACKFISH. Last Wednesday a school of twenty-eight blackfish went 

 ashore near North Trnro station. On Friday morning about 7 o'clock more were sighted from the 

 shore. A great number of boats started in hot pursuit, and overtaking them it was discovered 

 the school was a very large one. The driving toward shore immediately began amid great excite- 

 ment on part of fish, and men too. It was with a good deal of difficulty that the fish were grounded, 

 many having to be slaughtered in water 5 or 6 feet deep. Five hundred and forty-six were, how- 

 ever, landed; but before this was accomplished another school was sighted heading for shore; 

 seventy-two were found to be in this lot, which were secured, making in all six hundred and eight- 

 een fish lauded that morning, and six hundred and forty -six during the week, lining the shore of 

 North Truro for nearly a mile. There are, including boats, nearly three hundred shares to divide 

 spoils among clerks, printers, clergymen, veteran whalers, shipmasters, and photographer?, all 

 participating in the fracas, and all coming in for a portion of the proceeds. The following gentlemen 

 bought fish at the auction sale Saturday morning. Capt. Gideon Bow 7 ley, auctioneer: Eben 

 Cook (for firms of E. & E. K. Cook & Co., and H. & S. Cook & Co.); Charles A. Cook; B. A. 

 Lewis & Co. ; Mr. Long, of Harwich ; John Thompson, of Truro ; George Holmes ; Harvey S. 

 Cook, and others. Several parties besides those named being associated with those bidding the 

 fish in. They averaged $9.25 each, distributing $5,777.25 among the people of this town and 

 Truro, many of whom it will materially assist in providing for their winter wants, aid well timed 

 by an overruling Providence." | 



" In 1874 twenty-three hundred blackfish was driven ashore at Truro, stocking from $20,000 

 to si'."., 000. Two hundred and eight came on shore November 12, and were sold for $1,300 as they 

 lay." "Six hundred and eighteen blackfish were captured at North Truro September 8, 1874, 

 and sold for $5,805.25. The purchasers expect to make $20,000 from the oil."|| 



1875. 

 In 1875 one hundred and nineteen were driven ashore in North Dennis, and sold for $1,309. 



* New Bedford .Standard, December 6, 1*70. New Bedford Mercury, November, 1374. 



i Provincctown Advocate, December 24, 187i. || Cape Ann Advertiser, September, 11, 1874. 



\Tbid., September 9, 1874. 



