MAINE: BATH DISTRICT. 75 



41. BATH AND OTIlElt LESS IMPORTANT TOWNS. 



WOOLWICH. Woolwich is a settlement of two or tliree hundred inhabitants, on the west 

 bank of the Kenuebec, nearly opposite the city of Bath. It is surrounded by an agricultural dis- 

 trict, on which it is largely dependent for its trade. About thirty or forty years ago a few fishing 

 schooners were built at the village for the resident fishermen, as well as for those of Wiscasset, 

 Westport, and Georgetown; but though ship building is still carried on to a limited extent, it is 

 now confined wholly to vessels of larger size. 



As early as 1825 Woolwich became interested in the bank fisheries, and about 1855 there were 

 not less than twelve sail of "bankers" belonging to the town. At this time two large curing- 

 stands were located at the village, both of which handled considerable quantities of fish. Later 

 the fishing interests gradually declined, and by 1805 not a "banker" remained. For the past 

 fifteen years the people of the town have, wholly neglected the sea fisheries, though they still 

 engage in those of the river, catching considerable quantities of shad, alewives, smelt, and other 

 species. 



BATH; AN ACCOUNT OF ITS COMMERCIAL INTERESTS. The city of Bath is situated on the 

 west bank of the Kenuebec River, fifteen miles above its mouth. The region was first explored 

 iu 1004. It was a part of Georgetown up to 1781, when it was set off and incorporated under its 

 present name. In 1840 it had a population of 5,143, which iu 1870 was increased to 7,371. 



It has long been noted for its extensive ship building interests, being at one time more largely 

 engaged in this industry than any other city on the continent. The banks of the river in the 

 vicinity of the city are lined with large ship yards ; but the recent depression in this business has 

 had its effect upon them, and at the present time they present an appearance of lifeless inactivity. 



THE FISHERIES AND THE TRADE "WITH FISHING VESSELS. As a fishing town Bath has never 

 taken an important rank, though, like Wiscasset, it has served as a market where the vessels from 

 the lower islands could secure their outfit. The merchants of the city have been interested in the 

 fisheries to the extent of owning parts of many different vessels in order that they might more 

 effectually control their trade; but even when the fleet was owned in this way the catch was 

 usually lauded at the lower fishing towns, and at no time has Bath served as a market for any 

 considerable quantity of fish. The trade with the fishing fleet began before 1840, and in 1850 fifty 

 to sixty sail from the lower towns came to the city for provisions, gear, salt, and other necessary 

 outfit. The height of the business was between 1800 and 1804, when upwards of seventy vessels 

 fitted at Bath. At that time several cargoes of salt were imported annually for this trade. The 

 repeal of the " bounty law " is said to have virt ually put an end to the business, and at the present 

 time few vessels resort to this place for their fittings, and the business is almost wholly discon- 

 tinued. The local fleet has been greatly reduced, and there are now but two fishing vessels, aggre- 

 gating 23 tons, owned in the town, and these do not fish with any regularity. 



INDUSTRIES DEPENDENT ON THE FISHERIES. The people have been indirectly dependent 

 upon the fisheries in other ways. Several of the ship-builders have been engaged, to a limited 

 extent, in building fishing vessels, two of the firms, Thomas M. Hogan, and Deering & Dounell, 

 having built twenty-four vessels each since 18GG, when this particular branch of ship building 

 began. 



In 1843 a cordage factory was built at Bath by Mr. Donnell, of Newburyport, Mass., who 

 had been in business at the latter place since 1804. He soon developed a trade with the Maine 

 fishing fleet, selling an average of $2,000 worth of cordage yearly up to 1870. At this time an 

 agency was established at Gloucester, Mass., and by 1S73 the business had increased to 810,000 



