FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 211 



Merchant ; Brilliant, Capt. John Hammond ; Volant, Capt. John Pew ; Ro- 

 fneo, Capt. Henry Pew ; Paragon, Capt. William Tarr, 



William Parkhurst had a small wharf near the premises now owned by 

 Messrs. Shute & Merchant. He owned and fitted schs. Fair Atnerican, Capt. 

 John Wonson ; Ida, of which he was master ; and the Science, owned and. 

 commanded by Capt. David Parkhurst. 



At Deacon Andrew Parker's wharf, now owned by Charles Harriman, was 

 the sch. Brainard, of which he was master and owner ; also the Good Intent; 

 Capt. Charles Brown. 



On the premises now occupied by Sayward Brothers was a small wharf 

 or landing where two vessels were owned and fitted by Daniel Sayward & 

 Sons — schs. Helen Marr and Delegate. 



There was not a building or wharf on the Plain, or at Clay Cove, with the 

 exception of a small landing belonging to Daniel Norwood, at the foot of 

 what is now Hammond street. 



At East Gloucester, Benjamin Parsons had a small wharf at what is now 

 the premises of William Parsons, 2d, & Co. He owned and fitted schs. Su- 

 san Eliza, B. Parsons, Jr., master ; Protector, Martha Eliza, and others. 



John Wonson's wharf was on the site of that now occupied by William 

 C. Wonson & Co. He owned and fitted schs. Benevolence, Lieandas, Essex, 

 Confidence, boat Lucy, and others. 



Giles & Wonson, on the premises now occupied by Wonson Brothers, and 

 previously by George F. Wonson & Co., owned and fitted schs. Nautilus, J. 

 F. Wonson, master ; Forest, Capt. Stephen Rich ; Good Hope, Augusta, Mt. 

 Vernon, Eagle, I'iger, and others. 



There was also a small landing near the premises now occupied by the 

 Ferry Landing, owned by Benjamin Smith. There was no wharf at Rocky 

 Neck. 



This, so far as we have learned, comprises the names of those engaged in 

 the fisheries half a century ago, and the vessels of the fleet. But few square- 

 sterners were among them ; but nearly all were pinkeys of about forty tons 

 burthen, with three sails, and valued at about $1,500 each. In 1840 the 

 catch of mackerel for the season was only about 8,000 barrels, and the total 

 product of the fisheries for the year was only $500,000. The fishing busi- 

 ness at this port was at its lowest ebb of depression ; but in 1843 ^'"'*^ '44 

 there began to be a great improvement. The old class of vessels were sold 

 to go "Down East," where some of them are still running, and the shipyards 

 of Essex were busily employed for years in furnishing a superior class of 

 vessels which the vigorous prosecution of the new branches of the fisheries 

 — Georges and Grand Bank for halibut, and Bay of St. Lawrence for mack- 

 erel — required. 



Let the reader commence his walk at the Fort and proceed to Rocky 



