63 



a small way for himself, or of smoothing the footsteps of declining 

 3*ears. His children enjoy the privileges of good schools, and his 

 family are surrounded by all the elements of civilization and refine- 

 ment. As the oppressed operatives of the old world find their op- 

 portunity in the manufacturing centres of New England ; as the ten- 

 ants of the European landholder seek an asylum on the fertile acres 

 of the West ; so the oppressed fisherman of other lands turns his 

 eye to Gloucester as his one hope of escape from the bondage in 



which he is held. The native born citizen makes but a small ele- 

 ment in the catalogue of the fisheries. The men who sailed the fleet 

 a quarter of a century ago are largely included in the ranks of the 

 fitters and buyers of to-day. Their early experience proves their 

 best capital in conducting the business, and gives them success 

 where others might fail. 



To supply the fleet with practical fishermen large drafts are made 

 upon the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and every 

 spring sees hundreds of young men on the way from various ports 



