MASSACHUSETTS: BOSTON DISTRICT. 



193 



THE FHESH-FISH BUSINESS. From the first settlement of Boston until tbc year 1S35 tbe 

 fresh-fish business was carried on only as a retail trade. Ice was not then used, so that in the 

 summer season but limited quantities of fish could be sold, and then only to the near towns. 

 During the winter, fresh fish were teamed inland as far as Albany and Montreal. The catch came 

 from Massachusetts Bay and was supplied by the small fishing vessels from this and neighboring 

 ports. During cold weather it was brought in a frozen condition by teams from Cape Ann and other 

 ports. The oyster business was of small importance, and was carried on from two hulks covered 

 in and used for storage below and stores above. The oysters came mostly from Cape Cod, never 

 from south of New York, and were not sold during the months of July and August. 



As the demand for fresh fish increased, better facilities were needed to handle the catch. The 

 first wholesale fresh-fish store was opeued on Long Wharf in 1835, by Holbrook, Smith & Co. 

 Their business iu fresh fish was mostly during the winter and spring months, and through the 

 warm weather their trade was confined to pickled, dry, or smoked fish. In 1838 this firm removed 

 to Commercial Wharf, being the first fresh-fish firm on that wharf, which, at the present time, 

 is the headquarters of the trade. There are now thirty-five firms on and near Commercial Wharf 

 engaged iu the wholesale fresh-fish business, and five retail dealers holding stalls in Fauueil Hall 

 Market, receive large quantities of fish, especially fresh-water and rare species, from first hands. 

 The capital employed in this trade, including the value of wharves and buildiugs, is about 

 81,000,000, and the number of hands employed is two hurAlred and seventy-five. 



The total value of fresh fish received in Boston from all sources during the year 1879 was 

 valued at $1,761,259, and iucluded the following species: 



About one hundred Boston vessels and large boats, and an equal number belonging to other 

 New England ports, landed fares of fresh fish iu Boston during 1879. The Boston vessels landed 

 1,599 fares or 15,558,000 pouuds of cod, haddock, hake, cusk, flounders, and swordfish; 30 fares or 

 1,749,093 fresh mackerel iu number, and 120 fares or 1,998,062 herring in number. The fleet 

 belonging elsewhere landed 1,171 fares or 17,531,174 pounds of cod, haddock, swordtish. and other 

 ground fish; 220 fares or 9,975,250 fresh mackerel iu number; 18 fares or 548,892 pounds of fresh 

 halibut, and 30 fares or 1,935,270 shore herring in number. Besides the above quantities of fresh 

 fish lauded by fishiug vessels, there was a large amount received by rail, steamers, aud sailing 

 vessels, including 500,000 pounds cod, haddock, and other ground fish, 3,110,393 pouuds of halibut, 



13 GRF 



