168 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



to November 18, 1879, was 25,270 quintals of the former and 2,934 barrels of the latter, Laving a 

 total value of about $100,000. 



The amount of cash, exclusive of that paid for freights, charters, and commissions, brought 

 into Gloucester from abroad by these vessels during the above period was $95,112, which, with 

 freights of $8,000 more, makes a total of $103,912. Of this amount nearly $12,000 was paid out in 

 Gloucester for labor and other incidental expenses. For the preparation of the fish teu men were 

 constantly employed, and a building was specially fitted for the artificial drying of the cured fish 

 and the manufacture of drums and casks. 



In 1876 there sprung up a foreign trade in pickled herring. The first cargo of these fish ever 

 shipped to a foreign port from Gloucester was sent to Gottenburg in the spring of 1876, and within 

 about twelve mouths was followed by ten other cargoes. The business has been continued with 

 some success. Vessels have sailed during the past four or five years with cargoes of herring on 

 Gloucester account from Newfoundland, bound for Sweden and other European countries. 



ICE FOR PRESERVING FISH. In the Gloucester fisheries there are annually consumed 25,000 

 tons of ice, valued in 1880 at $100,000. The greater part of this ice is used on board the vessels to 

 preserve the fish fresh for market. George's-men take on ail average 6 tons of ice per trip, using 

 it for the preservation of bait and for fresh halibut. The fresh halibut fleet average 16 tons per 

 trip, though in the summer season as high as 40 tons are often taken from Gloucester and consumed 

 on a single trip, lasting three or four weeks. During the year 1879, Gloucester vessels made 1,132 

 trips to George's and 375 fresh-halibut trips, consuming about 14,000 tons of ice, while fresh- 

 anackerel, haddock, and shore vessels used a large amount. A great quantity was also used iu the 

 shipment of about 15,000,000 pounds of fresh fish by rail to all parts of the country, going as far 

 west as the Pacific coast. 



Gloucester vessels began to carry ice about the year 1842, prior to which time halibut wen- 

 brought to market largely in well-smacks. About 1845, ice-houses were built in the holds of the 

 vessels, and the fish, as soon as caught, were dressed and preserved fresh for some days, or even 

 weeks. Since about 1859 the fish have been shipped largely from Gloucester packed in boxes 

 with ice, each box holding from 400 to 500 pounds of fish. The ice is usually cut from the 

 ponds about Gloucester and stored in large houses erected for the purpose. During unfavorable 

 seasons, as that of 1880, the supply is brought from distant places. The price varies from year 

 to year, in 1879 the fishermen paid $2.50, while in 1880, owing to the warm winter, they were 

 obliged to pay $4 per ton. There are two ice companies, in one of which the fishing firms are 

 largely interested. Until 1878 one company controlled the entire business, but the demand for ice 

 has so increased that two companies, with an invested capital of $50,000 in buildings, fixtures, 

 horses, aud wagons, find abundant profit. Forty men and about fifty horses are constantly 

 employed in hauling ice in wagons to the wharves, where it is received by the crews of the vessels 

 aud stowed in ice-pens constructed in the vessel's hold. 



SALT FOR FISH-CURING. The fisheries of Gloucester consume an enormous quantity of salt. 

 During the year ended December 31, 1879,43,102,164 pounds, valued to the fishermen at $125,450, 

 were withdrawn from the custom-house in this district for the curing of fish. In the early period 

 of the fisheries much of the salt needed was brought from Spain and the West Indies by the 

 fishing vessels that took their catch direct from the banks to those countries and exchanged it for 

 salt. At the present day numerous ships, barks, aud large schooners bring cargoes direct to 

 Gloucester from Liverpool, Cadiz, and Trapaui. It is imported by two firms which have extensive 

 warehouses in Gloucester, and who sold it to the fishermen at an average of $1.63 per hogshead in 

 1879. The average price in Gloucester for the past eighteen years has been about $2.75 a hogs- 



