32 HISTOHY AND METHODS OF T1IE FISHERIES. 



were unable to dress their catch, but had tu throw the fish iu the hold just us they came from the 

 water. Mr. Pew relates an instance of this kind that happened on board of the piukey Paul Pry, 

 which he commanded, iu the spring of 1837. The vessel lay at anchor on George's Bank. Early 

 in the morning halibut were found to be very abundant, and, notwithstanding the prevalence of a 

 strong easterly wind and a thick snow storm, the men kept on fishing. The weather was so rough 

 that the fish were thrown ia the hold as fast as they were caught. After the day's fishing was 

 over, a full fare having been secured, the vessel started for the land. The wind was free for the 

 little piukey, and she was driven along at her utmost speed. Since it continued, however, to blow 

 nearly a gale while the passage was being made, the fishermen were unable to take the halibut 

 on deck, and consequently carried the fish into Boston without being dressed. 



From 1828, for a period of twenty years, the halibut fishery was carried on almost exclusively 

 upon George's Bank, but after the immense captures of 1847 and 1848, which resulted in the 

 establishment of the Gloucester Fishing Company, and its collapse on account of tha great over- 

 supply of fish, the quantity of halibut on George's began to fall off rapidly, and after 1850 or 1852 

 the fishery ceased to be remunerative. From this time to 1801 the fisheries were prosecuted chiefly 

 on the shallow parts of the Seal Island Ground, Brown's Bank, and Western Bank. More or less 

 halibut have, however, always been taken on George's by the hand line cod fishermen from Glouces- 

 ter, even up to the present time, and this bank has been resorted to iu the spring by the halibut 

 trawlers from the ports on Long Island Sound. 



The general character of the fishery upon George's Bank during the first decade of its exist- 

 ence may be appreciated from the following account of what was at the time considered a very 

 remarkable trip, as well as from others previously quoted: 



"In March, 1833, Capt. Chester Marr went to George's Bank iu the schooner Clarion. lie left 

 Gloucester Harbor ou Friday at 1 p. m., and on Sunday at 1 p. m. was again at anchor iu the harbor, 

 with a fare of 17,000 pounds of fish. From this trip he realized about $500. Two years later he 

 brought in a cargo cousistiug of 17,000 pounds of fresh halibut and 5,000 weight of salted flitches, 

 which he sold for $38. Captain Marr began halibut fishing ou George's in 1832. 



" We have succeeded," writes Mr. George H. Procter in 1873, " iu obtaining a carefully compiled 

 statement of the doings of the winter fishing fleet ou George's during the season of 1840. There is 

 such a contrast bet ween the business then and now that we feel assured the details will be of interest 

 to the reader. 



"The entire fleet which followed winter fishing at that time comprised twenty-nine vessels, as 

 follows : Schooners Mount Vernou, Clarissa Story, Oregon, Hosea Ballon, Huntress, Columbia, Ado 

 line, Champion, Union, William Wallace, Hannibal, Clarion, Alabama, Coucordia, H. A. Holbrook, 

 Canton, Centurion, Constitution, Cliutou, Pilot, Richmond, Sarah, Napoleon, Zauoni, William Peun, 

 Emerald, Eevenue, Cinderella, and Science. Their average measurement was G2 tons [old measure- 

 ment]; average value, $2,800, and were considered the stauuchest vessels belonging to the port. 

 The greater number of these vessels have either been lost or sold from this district. The first ten 

 of the above list left for George's January 5, and averaged five trips each during the season. Their 

 net stock amounted to [a total of] $11,870, and the average net earnings of the vessels were $151.50. 

 The largest fares brought iu were the first two trips of the William Wallace, Capt. James Pattillo, 

 amounting, respectively, to $500 and $610. The arrival of these trips produced quite a sensation, 

 and was the theme of conversation iu the stores, on the wharves, and on the street. The William 

 Wallace was the lucky craft, and to her captain and crew was accorded the honor of being high 

 liners of the Georgesmeu. She stocked $2,135 for her season's work. 



" The next eleven vessels of the list did not go so early in the season, but deferred their departure 



