70 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



37. SOUTHPORT AND ITS FISHERIES. 



SOUTHPORT. Soutbport, a high rocky island about G miles long by 3 miles wide, lying to 

 the south of Booth Bay, is separated from the mainland by a deep but narrow channel. It formed 

 a part of Booth Bay until 1842, when it was incorporated under the name of Townseud ; in 1850 it 

 received the name of Soutbport, which it has since retained. The island has a population of 084, 

 all being largely dependent upon the fisheries for a, livelihood. 



Its fishing interests have been extensive for many years, and its vessels have met with more 

 than average success, bringing considerable money to the inhabitants, who arc at the present time 

 in a better financial condition than those of the average fishing community. The fisheries of 

 this island, like those of Booth Bay, originated with the earliest settlers, when boats and small 

 vessels fished only in the immediate vicinity. The residents engaged to a limited extent in the 

 Labrador cod fisheries, sending their last vessel as late as 1850. 



Vessels from this place visited the banks near Capo Sable and Sable Island before 1825, 

 and they have continued to resort to these grounds ever since. Mackercling came into prominence 

 about this time, and in 1827 the first bait-mill was brought here from Gloucester by the schooner 

 Echo. The first vessel sent from Southport to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence was the schooner 

 Oliuda, in 1837. Mackerel were inspected here as early as 155. In 1801 a purse-seine was pur- 

 chased by resident fishermen from parties living at Damariscove ; it was used for several years by 

 boat-fishermen, who rowed out from the shore after the fish had been discovered. In 1808 vessels 

 from the island engaged for the first time in the spring mackerel-fisheries off the shores of Virginia 

 and New Jersey. The schooner American Eagle was the first to supply herself with dories for 

 bank fishing in 1S58, and in 1800 trawls were introduced by the schooner Island Queen. 



Southport has occasionally sent vessels to engage in the winter fisheries of George's Banks; 

 two schooners went to this locality in 1S59 ; one in 1802; and two, several years later; but the 

 hardships and dangers encountered soon caused the fishermen to abandon the business. 



The smoking of herring for family use dates back beyond the present century, and in 1806 

 quite a quantity of herring were smoked annually by the inhabitants of the island. Each fisher- 

 man had a little smoke-house on the shore, and took large quantities of "Sperling" (young her- 

 ring) from the waters of Ebeuecook Harbor, which has long been a favorite resort of the species. A 

 little later twenty-five sail of vessels frequented this locality from different fishing towns along the 

 shore, and either smoked their catch on the island or carried it elsewhere for that purpose. The 

 business has not yet entirely died out, and in 1879 four fishermen smoked 1,000 boxes for the 

 Boston market. 



The fishing fleet from the island now numbers thirteen sail, distributed as follows: Eight in the 

 bank fisheries, four seining and trawling during different parts of the same season, and one 

 employed in seining. In addition to these, half a dozen small craft just under 5 tons engage iu the 

 shore fisheries. The boat-fishermen, numbering twenty-seven men, reside mostly at Cape New- 

 Jigen, near the southern extremity of the island. They usually fish during the summer mouths, 

 after which they turn their attention to lobsteriug and clamming. The quantity of fish cured on 

 the island is annually decreasing, and is now about 10,300 quintals. 



38. WISCASSET AND WESTPORT. 



WISCASSET. The town of Wiscasset, on the west bank of the SheepscottEiver, near the head 

 of navigation, was first settled in 1C03 under the name of Po\vnalboro. The present name was 

 adopted in 1802. In 1840 it had a population of 2,314, which in 1870 was reduced to 1,978. The 

 business of the place is chiefly dependent on the large lumber interests. 



