56 



leaving seventy widows and one hundred and forty fatherless chil- 

 dren to mourn for the loved ones who would return no more. Last 

 year two hundred vessels were engaged in the Georges fisheiy at 

 some time during the year ; a large fleet followed the business 

 the greater part of the } T ear, and a total of 1348 fares were landed 

 at Gloucester. 



ON GEORGES IN A STORM. 



The Grand and Western Bank Fishery is pursued to a greater or 

 less extent during every month in the 3*ear, Last year this business 

 emp^ed 175 vessels, and 499 fares were landed. The business 

 niay.be classed in two departments, a portion of the fleet making 

 short trips and bringing in their fares fresh, to supply the fresh fish 

 trade, and the rest of the fleet making longer trips and dressing and 

 curing their fish as they are caught. This business employs the 

 best class of fishing vessels known to the waters of the coast. A 

 modern " banker," of average tonnage, costs about $8,800. Such a 

 vessel, manned by a crew of twelve men and making nine trips to 

 the Banks, being at sea 302 days, will require an expense of $1023 

 for trawl gear, $1824 for vessel's expense, $1426 for provisioning, 

 and $1135 for general charges, such as ice, bait, salt, etc. The man 

 who ventures on a trip in a " trawler " finds little of the " pleasing 

 content " described by the earl}' voj'ager. For him at least there is 

 little of romance in " the apostles' own calling." Life on the banks 

 he finds a constant round of drudgery, so long as he is able to make 

 his daily rounds. He must rise early and work late in order to visit 



