COD-FISHERIES OF CAPE ANN. G80 



In looking over the liistory of the fisheries, we find that when the 

 . banlv-lisheries liave i^rosi^ered the shore-fisheries have been neglected, 

 but when for any reason the bank-fisheries have been unprofitable the 

 fishermen have resorted to their boats and small vessels for a livelihood. 

 Thus, in 1804, when the bank fleet had been reduced to 8 saO, the shore 

 crafts numbered nearly 200; but when in 1847 the off shore vessels 

 had increased to 287, the chebacco boats numbered scarcely 35, these 

 fishing during a portion of the season only. 



We are told that the chebacco boat originated with the fishermen of 

 Cape Ann, and that it derived its name from a river on the north side of 

 the cape, where it was first extensively built. These boats were usually 

 of about 15 tons burden, rigged with two masts but no bowsprit, and 

 had a small forecastle or " cuddy" forward, afibrding sleeping and cook- 

 ing accommodations for the four or five men that constituted the crew. 

 The fishermen often ventured fifteen to thirty miles from harbor in them, 

 remaining four or five days before returning to land their catch. 



The first small boats extensively used were known as the Hampton 

 boats, from the village where they were first built. These are still used 

 by many of the shore-fishermen of Maine and Massachusetts. They 

 are open lap-streak boats varying from 12 to 20 feet in length, i)ropelled 

 either by oars or by means of two sprit-sails ; the masts being movable 

 so that they can be placed in the bottom of the boat when not in use. 



The common fishing-dory, now so extensively employed, was little 

 used for fishing purposes prior to 1825. It seems to have had its origin 

 with the boat-builders of Salisbury, Mass., about 1775, being long used 

 as a river -boat, and for lightering purx)oses, before its seaworthiness be- 

 came known. It is a flat-bottom, lap-streak boat, with sharp, i)rojecting 

 bow, V shaped i^rojecting stern, and flaring sides, having an average 

 length of 13 to 15 feet on the water-line. Occasionally it is propelled 

 by means of a small sail, but oars are more frequently used by the shore- 

 fishermen. 



As early as 1828, a few " pinkies," and " square-stern " vessels of 30 

 to GO tons burden engaged occasionally in the shore-fisheries, but it was 

 not until 1843, when the halibut-fisheries began to require this class of 

 vessels, that any extensive winter fishing was carried on. These vessels, 

 after finishing their season^s work in the halibut fisheries, began to fish 

 along the shore during the pleasant weather, and it was in this way 

 that the winter shore-fisheries originated. This class of vessels rapidly 

 increased in number, and by 1855 had nearly supplanted the smaller 

 chebacco-boats, though it was not till 1870, or later, that the shore-fish- 

 eries began to assume their present important proportions. In the 

 spring of 1879 fully 100 vessels ranging from 10 to 60 tons, with 90 ad- 

 ditional dories, engaged in these fisheries, and the fleet landed during 

 the year ending June 30, about 14,475,000 pounds of round cod-fish, 

 besides a great quantity of haddock, pollock, and hake. 

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