1838. HOUSE— No. 72. 45 



quintals of fish. To these may be added the towns of Newbury- 

 port, Lynn Falmouth, HohTies Hole, and Sandwich, (in which I 

 have not been able to learn the number of vessels exclusively em- 

 ployed in this fishery,) which furnished in 1836, 16,265 quintals. 

 Thus exhibiting 279,718 quintals of cod fish, taken by the enter- 

 prise of the citizens of 15 towns. When it is observed, that about 

 3500 of the cod fish from the Grand Bank, (which are generally 

 much larger than those from the Straits of Bellisle,) constitute a 

 single quintal, some conception may be formed of the immense num- 

 ber taken. At the usual price of these prepared fish, the above 

 mentioned number of quintals would sell for $839,154. 



Besides these fishing vessels, a great number of boats are constant- 

 ly employed in supplying the markets with fresh fish. Thus, at 

 Duxbury in 1836, there were 10 market boats, having 40 men on 

 board, which took from 38,000 to 40,000 fish. At Provincetown, 

 there were ten boats thus engaged. Boston market is supplied with 

 cod fish by about 15 or 20 small schooners, and a large number of 

 boats. By the kindness of Capt. Nathaniel Blanchard of Lynn, 

 master of one of these smacks, I am enabled to furnish the following 

 table, by which some idea may be formed of the amount of fresh cod 

 fi^h, brought to our market. He has presented me the result of his 

 labors with a vessel of 25 tons, and a crew of 6 men, for nearly 

 5 months, commencing October 24, 1836, and terminating March 

 20, 1837. His account exhibits the number of fish taken, and the 

 price obtained for the same for each day during that period. From 

 this minute statement, I am able to ascertain, that the largest quantity 

 taken any one day, was 7124 pounds — December 13th — which sold 

 for 5 shillings per hundred=$59.39. 



The smallest quantity taken any one day, was 337 pounds — Jan- 

 uary I6tli — which sold for 12 shillings=$6.67. 



The smallest receipts were March 20th, when 359 pounds taken, 

 sold for 10 shillings 6 pence=$5.92. 



The whole number of pounds taken during the period mentioned, 

 were 194,125. 



The entire receipts for the same, were $3,026.14. 



Besides the value of the fishes themselves in a fresh and dried 



