HISTORY OP THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 115 



Fisheries of Massachusetts. 



101. Mr. F. T. Babsoii, of Gloucester, Mass., states that in his district 

 are 40 vessels employing 400 men and a capital of $200,000. In this enu- 

 meration are included at least four steamers belonging to Judson Tarr & 

 Co., of Ilockport, which are used for their factory in Bristol, Me., and 

 perhaps others. The remaining vessels are schooners of from 20 to 70 

 tons, which are wholly engaged in taking fish for bait. Fisheries of 

 some importance are carried on at the mouth of the Merrimack Eiver. 

 They are described under the section relating to boats. 



Mr. Simeon Dodge, of Marblehead, Mass., reports " no large vessels em- 

 ployed" in his district, though small boats fish for menhaden to be used 

 for bait, and Mr. E. B. Phillips makes the same report for the vicinity 

 of Swampssott. 



Mr. Thomas Loring, Plymouth, Mass., says that in his district no ves- 

 sels are wholly employed in this business; a few menhaden are caught 

 for bait in gill-nets. 



Capt. Hermann S. Dill, of Billingsgate Island, writes that for about 

 three weeks, in the fall when menhaden are fat, 12 or 15 men and one or 

 two small vessels are employed in catching them in Wellfleet Bay. A 

 few are caught from dories. 



About the extremity of Cape Cod v^ery slight attention is paid to the 

 menhaden. Capt. David F. Loring, keeper of Highland Light, ]S'orth 

 Lynn, Mass., writes under date February 23, 1875: "I believe the fish- 

 ermen in this vicinity have an idea of going into the business quite ex- 

 tensively the coming season." He probably refers to the business ot 

 catching the fish for bait, which would naturally prove very x)rofitable 

 in the neighborhood of a great fishing center like Provincetown. 



At Chatham, on the heel of Cape Cod, according to Capt. Josiah Hardy, 

 2d, in Chatham Bay, there are 13 weirs, but no vessels are employed in 

 taking the menhaden. 



From Nantucket, Mass., Mr. Beuben C. Kenney, collector of customs, 

 reports that sail-boats of 5 tons burden are employed in setting the 

 gill-nets, of the proceeds of which about half is used for bait, the other 

 half sent to factories upon the mainland. 



In the vicinity of Hyannis, Mr. Alonzo F. Lothrop, keeper of the 

 light, states there are no menhaden fisheries. 



Edgqrtown, Mass., and the Island of Martha's Vineyard employ no 

 vessels in this fishery. Mr. C. B. Marchant, collector, writes that large 

 numbers are taken in the pounds, and are sold for bait. 



Fisheries of Rhode Island. 



162. In Narragansett Bay, according to Mr. Church, abo-ut 10 gangs 

 and 100 men are employed. Nearly 30 gangs fit out for the fisheries in 

 Maine, and these usually seine Narragansett Bay for a short time, 

 spring and fall. 



