MAINE: CASTING DISTRICT. 45 



of 20,000 quintals of fish during the season. Most of the vessels went to "the Bay" for mackerel 

 after their return from the banks. The "ground-fish" were dried by professional curers at 

 Orland and sold in Boston, and the mackerel were packed at various places. From 1858 the fishing 

 interests began to decline, and in 1870, according to Mr. Powers, the fishing fleet of the two towns 

 numbered only three or four sail, the majority of the old vessels being employed in the coasting 

 trade. 



In 1877 the business again revived, and in 1880 Orland had G schooners, aggregating 373.02 

 tons, engaged iu the Grand Bank cod fisheries. The vessels are valued at $10,500. During the 

 same season Bucksport had C large vessels fishing on Grand Banks, and two smaller ones engaged 

 in the shore fisheries; this fleet was valued at $13,GOO, and aggregated 459.03 tons. About 150 

 men are employed in the vessel fisheries of the two towns. The crews are usually hired at wages 

 varying from $120 to $150 for the season. The vessels, as a rule, make but one trip during the 

 summer, starting late in the spring and returning early in the fall. Nearly all land their catch at 

 Orland, where the fish are cured before being shipped to Boston and other places. 



In 1880 there were six curing-stands in the vicinity. These had an aggregate value of $3,000, 

 and furnished employment to 27 men for two months. The quantity of fish cured was 13,200 

 quintals, all but 400 quintals of which were cod. 



F. THE BELFAST DISTRICT. 



23. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTRICT AND ITS FISHERIES. The Belfast customs district extends 

 along the western border of Penobscot Bay, from Stockton to Rockland. It also includes the Fox 

 Islands, lying in the mouth of the bay, about midway between its eastern and western shores. 

 The soil of the mainland is well suited for agriculture, which occupies the attention of a majority 

 of the people. The residents of the Fox Islands are engaged chiefly in quarrying and fishing. 

 At the principal harbors along the main shore are settlements of greater or less importance. The 

 largest of these are the cities of Belfast and Camden. The people of these places, as well as those 

 of the smaller villages, are extensively interested in the coasting and foreign vessel trade, and 

 many large merchantmen are owned and manned by them. 



Camden and Belfast are the only places on the mainland that have been extensively engaged 

 in the fisheries. The residents of these cities became interested in the fisheries about 1825, and 

 for a quarter of a century the business continued to increase in importance, though it has since 

 declined, and the vessel-fisheries are now almost discontinued. The residents still continue to 

 engage in the shore fisheries to a greater of less extent in sununer, catching lobsters, mackerel, 

 cod, and other species for local supply. The river fisheries of the region are quite extensive, 

 many salmon, alcwives, and smelt being secured. 



The only islands of importance in the group known as the Fox Islands are North Haven and 

 Vinal Haven. These were settled about 1765 by parties from other localities, who came to Viiial 

 Haven for the more successful prosecution of the fisheries. Up to 1830 the vessels owned in this 

 locality were small craft, most of them being under 30 tons, carpenter's measurement. A majority 

 of these were owned at Vinal Haven, this island, owing to its nearness to the fishing-grounds, hav- 

 ing the largest fishing interests. A little later better vessels were added to the Vinal Haven fleet, 

 but the North Haven fishermen continued to use small ones up to 1850, since which time her fish- 



