SAIL01! FISHERMEN OF NEW ENGLAND. 53 



illustrates the enterprise of early youth. He says : 'In passing from Truro to Provincetown,' by 

 the bay route, 'I bad in company an inhabitant of the latter place. As we approached the mouth 

 of the inlet, the veitebras of a small species of whale, bere called the blackfish, became frequent 

 on the beach, together with other signs of the fisheries. Soon after, at the distance of half a mile, 

 on the sandy flat from which the sea was now fast retiring, we discovered a boy, and near him 

 appeared to be a great fish. The solitariness of the boy and bis smallness compared with tbe 

 fisb, formed a combination sufficiently remarkable to draw us to the spot; and we found our fisher- 

 man of about ten years of age astride a porpoise about 10 feet long, in the midst of a sea of blood 

 collected in the hollow of tbe sand. Alone, with a common table-knife for bis instrument, he was 

 cutting the blubber from the ribs of the monster, a task which be performed in a very workmanlike 

 manner. Upon inquiring, we learned that be alone bad killed tbe fisb. His employment in tbe 

 morning bad been tbe tending of bis mother's cows; and from tbe bills on which be was be bad 

 seen a shoal of porpoises enter tbe inlet. As the tide was ebbing, and tbe shore flat, many of 

 tbem were soon embarrassed by the want of sufficient water to move in; and he flattered himself 

 tbat by leaving tbe cows and coming down to tbe beacb, be might be able to make a prize! So 

 going into tbe water as far as be daied, be selected one struggling to regain deep water. This 

 fish be boldly caught, from time to time, by tbe tail, thereby increasing its difficulties, till at last 

 tbe water running away left tbe porpoise upon tbe sand. He staid by tbe fisb till be was sure 

 tbat escape was impossible; and then running home, a distance of a mile, procured a knife. Thus 

 armed, be proceeded to wound and kill tbe fish — a task of some labor and danger; and, according 

 to his account, be bad accomplished it only by watching opportunities — alternately striking and 

 retreating'. My companion said it would yield 10 gallons of oil, and give tbe little cowberd $10 

 for bis exploit.' 



"Of even children, on tbe lower parts of tbe Cape, tbe little porpoise-killer at Truro is a fair 

 specimen. Boys are often at sea at a very early age. Many of tbem at ten have become expert 

 fishermen ; and all who have a mind for promotion find their way from the forecastle to the cabin 

 in due time. Many of our best commanders in foreign voyages are furnished here. The. testimony 

 of Burke, in the House of Commons, before tbe Revolution, 1771, in regard to the mariners of New 

 England, was especially applicable to this and other parts of Cape Cod. 'No sea but what is 

 vexed by their fisheries; no climate that is not witness to their toils. Neither the. perseverance of 

 Holland nor tbe ad ivity of France nor the dexterous and firm sagacity of English enterprise, ever 

 carried this most perilous mode of hardy industry to the extent to which it has been pursued by 

 this recent people. * * * A more hardy or enterprising race of mariners is nowhere to be met 

 on the watery element.'" 



35. MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TRAITS. 



Characteristics of American fishermen. — It has been the custom of many writers upon 

 the fisheries to consider the fishermen as a peculiar class of men, with striking mental character- 

 istics by which they could be distinguished from the population of tbe shore. This may be justi- 

 fiable in cases where the profession of fishing is hereditary, in which event those who pursue it are 

 prevented by social limitations from entering upon commercial or other pursuits upon land. It 

 has been quite a common practice to consider the fishermen of all countries as possessed of similar 

 traits. 



In Sabine's well-known report on the American fisheries he devotes a chapter to the public 

 services and character of fishermen,* in which he gives many interesting facts concerning the serv- 



* Report on the Principal Fisheries on the American Seas, pp. 198-210. 



