MASSACHUSETTS AND ITS FISHERIES. 129 



vessels. This bounty continued in force until 1866, since which time the fishermen have had no 

 further special national allowance than the privilege of free salt. The effects of the several acts 

 of Congress and of the fishery treaties is discussed in another section. The bounty of 1819 

 allowed, under certain conditions, $3.50 per ton for the season on vessels under 30 tons, and $4 per 

 ton on larger vessels, but no vessel could receive more than $360. 



The Gloucester Telegraph, of August 15, 1829, gives the following "account of the fisheries 

 of Massachusetts and its neighboring States from the year 1790 to 1810, said to have been made 

 in the year 1815 by a gentleman who was well acquainted with the business, and who took consid- 

 erable pains to make his statement correct, it having been made by particular request and for a 

 special purpose." 



"My calculation is, that there were employed in the Bank, Labrador, and Bay fisheries, in the 

 years above mentioned, 1,232 vessels yearly, namely, 584 to the Banks and 648 to the Bay of 

 Chaleur and Labrador. I think that the 584 bankers may be put down at 36,540 tons, navigated 

 by 4,627 men and boys (each vessel carrying one boy). They take and cure 510,700 quintals of 

 fish, and average about three fares a year, and consume annually 81,170 hogsheads of salt. The 

 average cost of these vessels is about $2,000 each; the average price of these fish at foreign mar- 

 kets is $6 per quintal. These vessels also make from their fish annually 17,520 barrels of oil, 

 which commands about $10 per barrel. Their equipments cost about $900 each, annually, exclu- 

 sive of salt. 



"The 648 vessels that fish at the Labrador and the Bay, I put down at 41,600 tons, navigated 

 by 5,832 men and boys. They take and cure annually 648,000 quintals of fish. They go but one 

 fare a year, and consume annually 97,200 hogsheads of salt. The average cost of the vessels is 

 about $1,600, and their equipments, provisions, &c., $1,050 each. This description of vessels is 

 not so valuable as the bankers, more particularly that class which goes from Maine, Connecticut, 

 and Rhode Island, as they are mostly sloops and of no great value. Most of the vessels cure a 

 part of their fish near the place where they catch them, on the beach, rocks, &c., and the rest 

 after their return home. Several cargoes of dry fish are shipped yearly from Labrador directly 

 for Europe. The usual markets for these fish are in the Mediterranean, say Alicante, Leghorn, 

 Xaples, Marseilles, &c., as small fish are preferred at these markets and the greater part of the 

 fish caught in the Bay and at Labrador are very small. The average price of these fish is $5 per 

 quintal. These vessels also make from their fish about 20,000 barrels of oil, which always meets a 

 ready sale at a handsome price, say from $8 to $12 a barrel. Most of it is consumed in the United 

 States. 



Statistics of the Hank, Dan, a d Labrador codfisheriee of New England, 1790-1810. 



Vessels employed hi the Bank, Bay, and Labrador fisheries 1,232 



Tonnage 85, 140 



Number of men 10,459 



Number of hogsheads of salt consumed 178,370 



Number of quintals of fish taken 1, 158,700 



Number of barrels of oil made 37,520 



"There is also a description of vessels called jiggers, being small schooners of about 30 to 45 

 tons, which fish in the South channels, in the shoals, and near Cape Sable. They number 300 and 

 carry about 4 or 5 hands each, say 1,200 men, and take about 75,000 quintals of fish annually and 

 consume 1,200 hogsheads of salt and make about 4,000 barrels of oil. Their fish is generally 

 sold for the West Indies and home consumption. There is still another description of fishing 

 vessels commonly called ' Chebacco boats,' or ' pink-sterns.' Their number is 600, from 10 to 28 tons, 

 9 G R F 



