PLANTING AND FISHING. 105 



In the five 3''ears previous to tlie Reciprocity Treaty of 

 1855, Gloucester, as well as all other fishing-ports, shows a 

 large increase in valuation per cajnta, a large falling-off dar- 

 ing the time of that treaty, an increase afterwards between 

 18GG and 1873, and again a large decrease under the Wash- 

 ington Treaty. Essex built less fishing-vessels since the 

 Washington Treaty yearly than it has any previous 3^ears 

 during the past forty, having built an average of fort3--three 

 vessels yearly between 1845 and 1855, and fourteen yearly 

 since the Washington Treaty.* 



As there may be some curiosity to know how the Canadian 

 fleet has stood since the last treat}', compared with that of 

 this State, I will state, that between 1873 and 1878, by their 

 fish commissioner's reports, is shown a yain of 480 vessels, 

 19,858 tons, 2,990 men ; and 5,171 boats, 11,195 men, — a total 

 of 5,060 vessels and boats, with 14,185 men added to their fish- 

 eries in five years. 



Some may ask, of what interest is tliis to the farmers? I 

 will tell you. First, The fishermen are producers, and add 

 to the general wealth. Second, They are large taxpayers, 

 for they consume annually a large amount of merchandise 

 which would pay a high duty to import. Third, they fur- 

 nish emplo3nnent for a great many mechanics and laborers, 

 who, with their families, have to be fed. 



You can form some idea, when you consider the yearly 

 consumption in the Gloucester fishiny-vessels alone, of agricul- 

 tural products, v/hich are : of cotton in sails, nets, and lines, 

 1,602,888 pounds; rice, 25,920 pounds; sugar, 128,640 

 pounds; molasses, 29,376 gallons; flour, 6,912 barrels; beef, 

 4,104 barrels ; pork, 864 barrels ; pork shoulders, 1,512 bar- 

 rels; lard, 13,072 pounds ; butter, 210,248 pounds; beans, 1,- 

 720 bushels ; pease, 864 bushels ; dried apples, 64,800 pounds ; 



* Sixteen fishing-ports, including Gloucester, gained an aggregate average 

 valuation for each inhabitant, during the five years previous to the Reciprocity 

 Treaty, of twenty-two dollars yearly; between 1855 and 18GG, during that trea- 

 ty, three dollars and twenty cents each yearly. Between 18G5 and 1870, after 

 that treaty expired, their average gain was ten dollars and sixty cents each 

 yearly. Thirteen ports, the others having changed to manufacturing, had 

 gained an aggregate average of ten dollars and sixty cents each yearly. 

 Between 1870 and 1875 they had gained forty cents each yearly, against an 

 average gain of six dollars to each inhabitant of the whole State ; since 1875, 

 losing. Gloucester has lost in aggregate average valuation, between 1873 and 

 1880 inclusive, over eight dollars yearly for each inhabitant. 



