at all. Compassion towards the fishermen, and partly some 

 expectation of gain, prevailed so far, that for the planting of a 

 Colony in New England, there was raised a stock of more than 

 three thousand pounds, intended to be paid in five years, but 

 afterwards disbursed in a shorter time." 



This attempt to establish a permanent settlement of fisher- 

 men and planters on Cape Ann failed- — Mr. White giving as a 

 reason for the failure " the ill choice of the place for fishing. 

 First, that no sure fishing place in the land is fit for planting, 

 nor any good place for planting found fit for fishing, at least 

 near the shore ; and secondly, rarely any fishermen will work 

 at land ; neither are husbandmen fit for fishermen, but with 

 long use and experience." Words as true to day of the Amer- 

 ican fishermen, as when uttered, 250 years ago. 



You will hardly agree with him as regards " the ill choice 

 of the place for fishing," when to-day Gloucester, " the harbor 

 of Cape Ann," ranks, as the representative fishing port of the 

 world, and the centre of the fishing business of America. 

 With a fleet of vessels numbering 459, of over 5 tons burthen, 

 in 1879, of which 9 were hauled up, and 18 lost during the 

 year without realizing any stock, leaving 432 actively engaged 

 in the various branches of the business for a part or all the 

 year, a total tonnage of 25,471 tons, employing 4703 fisher- 

 men. Original value of the fleet $2,688,272 ; present value, 

 $1,223,413. The " gross stock," or catch, amounted to 

 $1,799,566 in value, which, after deducting " stock expenses," 

 which are bait and ice with expenses procuring it, is divided 

 equally between the crew and the vessel, one-half of one per 

 cent, to the Widows' and Orphans' fund is paid from the crew's 

 part. In 1879, the crews of the vessels over 20 tons averaged 

 $176 each, for the time they were employed ; and those in 



