62 FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL AND RECORD BOOK. 



he kept secret for many months. The hooks then in use were nearly 

 as large as the haddock hooks of to-day. The small lines and fly 

 lines, did not come into use until about 1823. About this time the 

 gaff was introduced, and was abandoned after being used some ten 

 years. 



In the commencement of the mackerel fishery, the crews, with some 

 few exceptions, continued through the entire season. But one settle- 

 ment was made, the men, who were classed as sharesman, all sharing 

 equal, the mackerel being put together in common stock. 



Bait mills were not used until the year 1820, or thereabouts. Pre- 

 vious to this, the bait was ground up by the fishermen under the heels 

 of their heavy boots ; subsequently it was pounded with mallets, then 

 came the chopping on a block with hatchets, which was considered 

 quite an improvement, and was done during the watch at night. The 

 bait mill, however, proved the thing, and came into general use soon 

 after its introduction. 



In the summer of 1818, Capt. Simeon Burnham made a trip in the 

 schooner President, to Cashe's, for the purpose of catching mackerel 

 to salt. This, so far as we can learn, was the first trip for the pur- 

 pose of catching mackerel to salt, ever made from this port ; conse- 

 quently to Capt. Burnham belongs the honor of being the pioneer in 

 this branch of the fisheries. It was considered quite an important 

 event at the time, so much so that Capt. Benjamin Tarr was hired to 

 go as navigator. Seventy barrels were caught on this trip, and they 

 were packed in Boston. Two years after, this branch began to in- 

 crease, and in 1821, several other jiggers were added to the fleet. They 

 carried six hands and were absent about a week. The jiggers were 

 stowed with butts and wash-barrels, and no mackerel were headed 

 upon board, until about 1820. In 1821, Samuel TVonson, Elisha M. 

 Oakes, Robert Marston, Simeon Burnham, Samuel Brown, Nathaniel 

 Blatchford, John Wonson, George Wonson, James Merchant, Epes 

 Merchant, were the skippers of the jiggers, which comprised the chief 

 part of the mackerel fleet. These jiggers ranged in tonnage from 

 twenty-seven to forty-five tons. Prior to 1818, there were but few 

 mackerel packed in Gloucester, that part of the business being most- 

 ly done in Boston. Moses Gilbert was the only inspector in town 

 until 1828, and his accommodations were quite limited. At this date 

 several other inspectors were appointed, and the mackerel fishery be- 

 gan to assume quite a business importance. 



In the year 1822, Capt. William Marshall caught a few mackerel on 

 Georges, which were the first, so far as we can ascertain, ever caught 



