THE GROWTH ALONG THE COAST 181 



the years of the Civil War. The larger schooners, to the 

 number of thirty-five, were engaged almost exclusively in 

 the mackerel fishery, during its season, in the Gulf of Saint 

 Lawrence. After the close of the fishing season many of 

 them were employed in the coasting trade between Boston 

 or New York and the coast towns of Maine until the fishing 

 season opened the following summer. 



As early as 1825 there were forty boats engaged in the 

 shore fisheries of the Isle au Haut. Some were engaged in 

 the herring fishery ; later vessels were sent to the Magdalen 

 Islands for the fish. Bucksport, on the Penobscot River, 

 had vessels engaged in offshore codfishery by 1825. The 

 business increased steadily until there were twenty vessels 

 of from fifty to one hundred and twenty tons landing 20,- 

 000 quintals of fish in 1855. The Bucksport fishery began 

 to decline after 1858. 



Vinal Haven and North Haven have always occupied 

 prominent places in the fisheries of Maine. The Labrador 

 fisheries of Vinal Haven which began in 1804 were con- 

 tinued until 1840. The Magdalen herring industry began 

 in 1830 and continued without interruption for twenty- 

 eight years. Vinal Haven marketed $70,000 worth of dried 

 fish in 1855. Three years previous to the opening of the 

 Civil War from ninety to one hundred sail of vessels were 

 owned in this place, and about forty at North Haven. 

 About 1850, larger vessels were introduced into the fisheries 

 of North Haven which gave an impetus to the fisheries of 

 the town so that they soon outrivaled those of Vinal Haven. 

 Some of their vessels were engaged in the codfishery in 

 the spring and in the mackerel fishery during the summer. 

 By 1861 their vessels followed the mackerel fishery during 

 the entire season, going South in the spring and following 

 the fish as they migrated into northern waters. 



The shore towns from Matinicus to Portland were active 

 in pursuing the industries of the sea. Matinicus was a 



