54 



GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



Detailed statement of tlie quantities and values of Hie products Continued. 



A description of the past aud present fishery interests of the various towns of the Waldoboro' 

 district may be found in the following pages. 



28. ROCKLAND, THOMASTON, AND SAINT GEORGE. 



ROCKLAND. Up to 1848 Rocklaud was a part of Thomastou. At that time it was set off and 

 incorporated under the name of East Thomastou, and in 1850 the present name was adopted. Its 

 population in 1870 was 7,073. The principal business of the town is the quarrying of limestone 

 for the manufacture of lime. Nearly all of the inhabitants are employed at the kilns and quarries 

 or on the vessels engaged in the transportation of the products. 



Rocklaud has never been a fishing town and has had very few fishing-vessels sailing from its 

 harbor. The largest fleet at any time has not exceeded ten sail. In 1879 there were four vessels 

 engaged in the fisheries to a greater or less extent, only one of them being constantly employed. 

 Other small vessels were sailing under fishing license, but they fished so little that they should not 

 be considered as dependent upon the fisheries. In 1880 a small steamer, the Hurricane, was fitted 

 out with a purse-seine for menhaden, but not finding any of that species the captain turned his 

 attention to the capture of mackerel. This is the first instance of a steamer being employed 

 extensively in the mackerel fishery, and it is not impossible that this small beginning may result 

 in such a change in the methods of fishing as to completely revolutionize the mackerel fisheries of 

 the country. 



The boat fisheries of the town are very limited, and scarcely a dozen men follow fishing for a 

 livelihood, though fully fifty fish for mackerel for four or five weeks each summer. The bulk of 

 the catch is sold fresh, though some are salted and sold to the local dealers. Rocklaud is obliged 

 to send to Saint George aud South Thoruaston for a large part of her fresh fish. 



