74 fishebjian's memorial and record book. 



barrel — a stout apron of leather, and the ponderous fishing boots, of 

 astonishing breadth of beam, made of the thickest of russet cowhide, 

 with tops made to turn up high over the knees, and though cumbrous 

 and heavy,, constituted an efficient protection against cold and wet. 

 Uncle Charlie recalled to mind the familiar forms and weather browned 

 faces of many of these veteran sons of old ocean " whose march was 

 on the mountain wave, whose home was on the deep." There were 

 the Marshall Brothers, familiarly known as Tim and Bill ; Atkinson 

 and Millett ; Abraham Wharf, Isaac Jeffs, Philip Priestlj^ John 

 Truebody, and many others. 



Following the pinkey fleet, came a larger class of boats, of thirty 

 tons and upwards. These boats at first were the same rig as the 

 smaller class, and had no bulwarks or bowsprit. They had stanch- 

 ions, rail, and a narrow strip above the waist about six inches wide, 

 the rest of the space being left open, as it was then deemed unsafe to 

 have bulwarks, the plan of having scuppers to let out the water not 

 being adopted until several years afterwards. These boats subse- 

 quently had their stems sawed off and were rigged with bowsprits, 

 carrying foresail, mainsail and jib, and known as "jiggers." They 

 were considered very large vessels at that time, and competent to 

 make a voyage to any part of the world. 



' The first of the fleet of this class was the " President," twenty-eight 

 tons, commanded by Capt. Simeon Burnham, and the " Union," twen- 

 ty-four tons, Capt. Epes Merchant, which was subsequently taken by 

 the privateer Rolla, but afterwards liberated. Then came the " Con- 

 stitution," thirty-two tons, Capt. "William Parsons, which was the 

 largest jigger of the fleet, — so large that it was feared she could not 

 be worked out and in from the upper harbor cove, consequently she 

 had to be moored off the harbor rock. The " Madison," twenty-seven 

 tons, was commanded by Capt. William Parkhurst. She was a very 

 fast sailer, and during war-time was purchased for a privateer, bring- 

 ing in two prizes in one week. There were also several others, and 

 it may be a matter of interest to state that the cost of building these 

 boats was from sixteen to eighteen dollars per ton. Quite a differ- 

 ence between then and now. These jiggers were furnished with a 

 small fireplace and chimney, built of brick, in the cabin or " cuddy." 

 The chimney came out flush with the deck, and upon that a square 

 wooden box or funnel, which could be removed as occasion required. 

 These little chimneys had a merit peculiarly their own. They were 

 sure to carry smoke at all times, one way or the other — either upward 

 or downward — and it was to this " habit of smoking," as Uncle Char- 



