MAINE: WALDOBOEO' DISTRICT. 57 



boxes of these fish were cured annually for the Boston market. This trade seems to have grad- 

 ually died out, until at present there is but one smoke-honse, curing iu 1878 about 2,700 boxes. 

 Herring are still quite plenty during the summer months, when many of the vessels of Cape Ann 

 and Portland come regularly to the region to procure fresh bait. In addition to the resident 

 fishermen, many of the smaller fishing vessels from the adjoining towns are provided with nets, 

 and their crews often engage extensively iu the herring fisheries when the fish are abundant. 

 They not only catch bait for themselves, but sell large quantities to the vessels that come only to 

 purchase. The herring fisheries of Matiuicus yielded during the summer of 1879 about 1,870 

 barrels, these being used almost wholly for bait. 



Hani-seines were first used at the island for the capture of mackerel in 1840, and they have 

 been employed to a limited extent in this fishery to the present time. Purse-seiues were first 

 introduced iu 1870. Trawls were frequently used as early as 1866, and are now almost universally 

 adopted. The lobster fisheries were inaugurated in 1867, and from that time the shore fishermen 

 have taken them iu considerable numbers. 



THE BOAT AND VESSEL FISHERIES. About forty of the residents engage in the shore fish- 

 eries to a considerable extent, some of them spending a part of their time in farming. On account 

 of the location, many of the fishermen on the mainland camp on the island during the summer 

 mouths that they may be convenient to the fishing grounds, which they visit in small open boats 

 during pleasant weather. Some of them fish for any species that happens to be abundant, while 

 others devote themselves exclusively to some particular fishery. The vessel fleet, which numbers 

 eleven sail, aggregates -48.51 tons, and is valued at $10,250. The quantity of fish cured on the 

 island in 1879, including the catch of the boat fishermen, was about 3,600 quintals. With a good 

 harbor Matinicns might develop a large fishing business, but there is little shelter for the vessels, 

 and to guard against serious loss great care must be taken in mooring them. During a gale in 

 1841 nine were driven ashore, where they became a total loss. After the fishing season is over 

 most of the fleet are now taken to Carver's Harbor for the winter. 



BOAT-BUILDING. During their leisure hours in winter many of the fishermen give their 

 attention to boat-building. They build a peculiar style of boat that has won for itself an enviable 

 reputation on account of its seaworthiness and its sailing qualities. They are sloop-rigged, 'open 

 boats, of large size, and fine appearance, suitable for the prosecution of the winter fisheries in the 

 vicinity of the various harbors. Since 1867 upwards of one hundred and fifty of these boats and 

 twenty dories have been built on the island. 



30. CUSHIXG, FRIENDSHIP, WALDOBORO', AND BREMEN. 



GUSHING. dishing, a small farming district lying on the west bank of the Saint George 

 River between Thomaston and Friendship, was incorporated as a town in 1789, at which time it 

 included Saint George. Its population, numbering 704, are interested chiefly in agricultural 

 pursuits. 



Owing to its location it has been interested in the fisheries from its first settlement, but the 

 industry has been of little importance, as it has been chiefly confined to a class of semi-professional 

 farmers who fished only during the height of the season, and few have followed fishing exclusively. 



Several traps or pounds arc employed by people of the town for taking alewives as they 

 ascend the Saint George River in spring, and three or four smelt-weirs are located along the shore, 

 the catch being mostly sent to New York. The shore boat fishermen, eight iu all, are engaged in 

 fishing and lobsteriug; most of the catch being sold fresh to peddlers who carry them into the 



