THE RENAISSANCE OF THE FISHERIES 131 



period between 1786 and 1790 is shown in the table below. 1 

 During that time there were 539 vessels employed in the 

 fishery, of a total tonnage of 19,185 tons, and carrying 

 3,292 men. The average size of the vessels was 35 tons, 

 and of the crews six men. Marblehead, with over one- 

 fourth of the total tonnage employed, still held the position 

 of the first in the number of vessels employed. The other 

 principal fishing towns were Plymouth, Salem, and Beverly, 

 the three together doing about one-fifth the fishing business 

 of New England at this time. 



The exports of the products of the New England cod- 

 fishery for the five years 1786 to 1790 inclusive show that 

 there were annually sold in European markets 108,600 

 quintals of fish valued at $325,800, and in the markets of 

 the West Indies 142,050 quintals valued at $284,100. 2 Al- 

 lowing, on a liberal estimate, that one-half the value of the 

 sales went as wages to the fishermen, the average amount 



i The state of the codfishery of Massachusetts between 1786 and 

 1790: 



2 Pitkin, Statistical View, p. 84. 



