AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. . 2623 



\ 



down and packed away; while they are drying on the flakes it takes 

 four men to tend them, and wheel them in and pile them up after they 

 are dry. 



Q. Now they are dried codfish. What is the custom now as to pre- 

 paring them for market 1 ? The merchants of Gloucester have made 

 Gloucester the distributing point. It used to be Boston ? A. Yes ; 

 they send them to all parts of the United States direct. They take 

 these fish and cut the tails off, strip them of their skin, and take their 

 back-bone out. That is called boneless cod. Then some of them split 

 it lengthwise, and others roll them up into rolls, cut them across the roll, 

 and stand them upon end in boxes. There are several. different ways of 

 arranging them in the boxes. 



Q. What is the usual size of those boxes ? A. They are 10, 20, 40, 00, 

 80, and 100 pounds. 



Q. Now, they send those boxes all the way from 10 to 100 pounds. 

 Formerly codfish were all sold whole, were they not ? A. Yes. 



Q. How long has this custom of trimming them and packing them in 

 boxes been in existence ? A. Since 1870. 



Q. Has it been found successful? A. Yes ; because it has opened up 

 a greater market for the codfish. Before that their bulk prevented their 

 being distributed so well. Now, being in a portable shape, they go all 

 over the Union. Anywhere they can transport a box of bread they can 

 transport a box of fish. It makes labor for a great many hands. 



Q. Now Gloucester has been, as we have seen by its statistics, with 

 certain fluctuations, a place of considerable pecuniary resources justify- 

 ing a considerable valuation. Will you be so good as to tell the Com- 

 mission what resources there are in Gloucester to account for tho valu- 

 ation of its property, besides what is traceable to the fishing business f 

 All the work of the merchants in connection with the handling of the 

 fish, we allow to go in as a part of the fishing industry. A. There are 

 marine railways. 



Q. I don't care about that. You say you have half a dozen perhaps, 

 mainly supported by the fishing business. A. We have others coming 

 from other places for repairs, which makes labor for calkers and painters. 



Q. Then you have large vessels that go to the Mediterranean, Portu- 

 gal, and the West Indies ! A. Some few ; not much of that. We have 

 an extensive salt business. 



Q. Take the granite, for instance ; what is the valuation of the granite 

 business of Gloucester ? A. The industrial pursuits of Gloucester pro- 

 duce a million and a half per annum outside of the fisheries. 



Q. Granite is one of the principal ones? A. Yes. 



Q. You have an unlimited supply of granite, I suppose? A. Yes. 



Q. I mean something that you can cut, that lies in quarries? A. Yes. 

 Our valuation is largely increased by it. 



Q. In the first place there is a great deal of quarrying going on and 

 a great many men employed in quarrying stone? A. Yes. 



Q. That stone is used for pavements in the cities and for house-build- 

 ig ! A. Yes ; it finds a good market. 



Q. A good many vessels are employed carrying it, or do you send it 

 by rail? A. No; it is sent by steamers and vessels. 



Q. Gloucester exports its granite as prepared from the quarries in the 

 neighborhood? A. Yes. 



Q. Are there any other reasons for the increase in the valuation f A. 

 Well, summer residences bring in considerable. 



Q. You mean persons who do business and whose personal property 



