MASSACHUSETTS: GLOUCESTER DISTRICT. 155 



cod, those measuring not less than 27 inches from tip of nose to fork of tail being called large and 

 others small. 



Nearly all the George's cod are pickle-cured, being resalted in butts as soon as landed. After 

 remaining in pickle until needed for sale, they are slightly dried, and are then ready to be cut up 

 into boneless or for shipment whole. 



As recorded by the Capo Ann Advertiser, the catch of George's cod by Gloucester vessels 

 was 186,758 quintals in 1875, 26,975,000 pounds in 1876, 23,755,000 pounds in 1877, 24,158,000 

 pounds in 1878, and 23,144,000 pounds in 1879. The records of the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion give the receipts as 30,249,580 pounds in 1880. The number of arrivals in 1880 was 1,393. In 

 the first five of the above years the catch of George's cod was more than one-half of the entire catch 

 of cod by Gloucester vessels on all the fishing banks, but in 1880 the catch of the Western and 

 Grand Banks fleet reached larger proportions than in previous years, and thus reduced the relative 

 importance of the George's fishery. 



The largest recorded codfish fare ever received from George's was 123,115 pounds round, 

 with 8G2 pounds of halibut, by schooner S. E. Lane, Capt. Solomon Jacobs, in 1875. The vessel 

 stocked on this trip $2,554, and the crew shared $90.81. The schooner Triton on one trip took 

 54,000 pounds of split and 30,000 pounds of round codfish, equal to about 111,000 pounds round, 

 and 3,000 pounds of halibut. Several othtr vessels have brought home fares of over a hundred 

 thousand pounds round. On five George's trips in a recent year the schooner Proctor Brothers 

 took 21,544 codfish iu number, weighing 171,000 pounds. Of her crew of eleven men, Mr. George 

 Williamson was high line, taking 2,417 fish, while the low line caught 1,431. 



As early as the middle of the last century Marblehead fishing vessels were accustomed to visit 

 George's Bank for cod, making one or two trips there in the summer or early fall. They did not 

 anchor on the fishing grounds at that date, but drifted about. It does not appear that Gloucester 

 vessels visited that bank until 1821, when the schooners Three Sisters, Eight Brothers, and Two 

 Friends went there, but staid on the bank only one or two days, being afraid to anchor on 

 account of the strong current. In 1830 the schooner Nautilus anchored on the bank and secured 

 some halibut, and may be said to have inaugurated Gloucester's share in the George's fishery. 



The fishing for cod on this bank was of little importance until after the introduction of frozen 

 herring from Newfoundland in 1856. These frozen herring arrived early in the winter and were 

 found to be an excellent bait for the great schools of cod that visit George's at this season of the 

 year. A very successful season was made on George's by Capt. Peter Sinclair in the winter and 

 spring of 1859, and it was not long before large fleets of Gloucester vessels were engaged in this 

 fishery. 



The George's fishing vessels were generally from 80 to 90 tons burden, and were manned 

 by the bravest of the Cape Ann fishermen. The fleet fitted out immediately after the arrival of 

 frozen herring from Newfoundland, early in January, and continued throughout the spring, as 

 long as fish could be found. About 1867 the George's fleet became still larger because of the 

 greater abundance of frozen herring at this time brought from New Brunswick as well as from 

 Newfoundland. Among the most successful trips at this period was that of the schooner Montana 

 which took 100,162 pounds on a fouiteen days' voyage, and iu two trips the same year landed 

 183,362 pounds, making a gross stock of $3,417.32. Other large fares were those of 99,338 pounds, 

 by schooner Madame Roland, in 18C6; 100,575 pounds, by schooner William J. Dale, in 1868; and 

 102,075 pounds, by schooner Everett Steele, in 1869. One of the most valuable George's codfish 

 trips ever made was that of schooner Madame Roland in 1865, when $2,833.29 was stocked. 



THE COD FISHERY ON GRAND AND WESTERN BANKS. The Grand and Western Banks fishery 



