78 



GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



Detailed statement of ilie quantities and values of the 2'oducts Continued. 



43. HARPSWELL AND ITS FISHERIES. 



The town of Harpswell cousists of three long- ami rocky peninsulas, separated from each other 

 by deep but narrow channels. It also includes a number of islands, some of which are quite 

 small, while others are of considerable importance. It is situated about 15 miles from Portland, 

 near Cape Small Point, which marks the eastern limit of Casco Bay. The region was first settled 

 iu 1720, when it was known as Merryconeag. The town was incorporated in 1758, and in 1840 had 

 a population of 1,440, which had increased to 1,749 in 1870. The inhabitants are principally occu- 

 pied in farming or fishing. Those on the upper part of the peninsulas devote the greater part of 

 their time to the land, while the fishermen live about the southern headlands or on the islands 

 convenient to the fishing grounds. 



It seems that Harpswell has been engaged in the fisheries to a considerable extent from its 

 earliest settlement, and many of the early writers refer to it as a fishing town. Some of its vessels 

 were sent to Labrador as early as 1825, and it is said that others engaged in the Grand Bank 

 fisheries for many years. 



EXTENT OF THE FISHERIES IN 1879. In 1879 there were seven curing-stands, and 20,575 

 quintals of cod, hake, haddock, pollock, and cusk were dried by the fishermen and dealers, in 

 addition to 175,000 pounds of the same species reserved for local consumption or for the country 

 trade. A large quantity of haddock are taken by Harpswell vessels in winter and sold directly 

 to the Portland dealers. In 1879 there were twenty-one fishing vessels, aggregating 451.92 

 tons, and valued at $20,350, owned at Harpswell. These furnished employment to one hundred 

 and four men, nearly all of whom were Americans. Twelve of the vessels engaged exclusively in 

 the shore fisheries; five others, after fishing along the ashore in summer, engaged in the winter 

 haddock fishery for the Portland market; and the remaining four were employed in "running" 

 lobsters to Portland and to the Harpswell cannery. 



THE BOAT-FISHERIES. The boat-fisheries of the region are quite important, giving employ- 

 ment in 1879 to one hundred and fifty-two men. Some of them fish for lobsters iu the early spring, 

 and the remainder for cod and other species. In summer nearly all are engaged in the cod and 

 hake fisheries with lines and trawls. Early in September the herring arrive in considerable num- 

 bers, and a greater part of the vessels, with many of the boats, engage in their capture with 

 nets. Part of the catch is salted, and the remainder is sold fresh in Portland. 



THE MENHADEN FISHERY. Prior to the disappearance of the menhaden many of the fisher- 

 men engaged extensively in their capture, the catch being salted and sold for bait to the offshore 

 tieet. Between 1870 and 1878 several thousand barrels were put up annually. Casco Bay has 

 been a favorite resort for the menhaden for many years; and in 187G an oil and guano factory was 



