MASSACHUSETTS: NEWBURYPORT DISTRICT. 137 



glass. In 1855 a factory for the manufacture of isinglass was built and is now actively engaged in 

 that industry, turning out annually about 100,000 pounds of the manufactured article. The produc- 

 tion for the year 1879 has outstripped that of any other, being 140,000 pounds. The greater portion 

 of this quantity was made from hake sounds, chiefly supplied by American fishermen at from 75 cents 

 to $1.15 per pound. Importations of sounds were also received from Hull and Liverpool, England; 

 Hamburg, Germany; Bombay, India; and Maracaibo, South America; these costing 27 cents 

 to 80 cents per pound. A limited supply was received from Russia at $1.08 per pound. Most of 

 this isinglass finds a market among the New York brewers and those of the Western States, at 

 prices varying from $1.20 to $1.80 per pound. 



C. THE DISTRICT OF GLOUCESTER. 



58. REVIEW OF THE DISTRICT. 



EXTENT OF THE FISHERIES OF GLOUCESTER DISTRICT. The proximity of Cape Ann to the 

 fishing grounds for cod and mackerel, and an excellent harbor for vessels of all sizes, has made this 

 place famous in the history of the fisheries. On the north side of the cape is Ipswich Bay, which 

 abounds with cod in the winter season, and which for more than two hundred years has been 

 the resort of a large fleet of fishing vessels and boats. South of the cape is Boston Bay with its 

 numerous fishing ledges and banks. Only 150 miles off the coast lies George's Bank, famous as 

 the best of cod-fishing grounds. The principal town on the cape is Gloucester, and adjoining it are 

 Rockport, Essex, and Manchester. These four places comprise the customs district of Gloucester. 



The fisheries and vessel building have been the chief industries of the people since the first 

 settlement of the region. At Rockport and at some of the outlying villages of Gloucester are 

 large granite quarries which were opened many years ago by parties from Quincy. These now 

 give employment to a considerable number of men. 



The total capital invested in the fisheries in the district is $4,326,568, the value of the prod- 

 ucts in first hands $3,155,071, and the number of persons employed 6,206. These statistics 

 are for the year 1879, which was a very disastrous and unfavorable one compared with subse- 

 quent years. The catch of the fleet in 1880 was considerably in excess of that in 1879, and 

 prices much higher. The total weight of fish taken by the fishermen of this district in 1879 was 

 189,383,026 pounds as they came from the water. This quantity was reduced by dressing and 

 curing to 106,116,499 pounds. In addition to the above amount 549,100 pounds of lobsters were 

 taken along the shores, also 800 barrels of squid, 15,000 pounds of Irish moss, and 250 tons of sea- 

 weed. The most valuable part of the product was dry fish, of which 42,850,143 pounds were prepared, 

 worth $1,634,103. The amount of fish sold fresh was 44,048.606 pounds, worth $727,099 to the 

 fishermen. Pickled fish were sold to the amount of 17,967,750 pounds, worth $487,107. The smoked 

 fish were worth $100,000; shell fish, $22,462; and miscellaneous products, $184,830. 



The active fishing fleet in 1879 in this district numbered 414 sail, aggregating 23,453.72 tons, 

 and manned by 4,505 men. Besides this active fleet there were eighteen vessels, measuring 1,136.12 

 tons and carrying 198 men, lost during the year on their first trip without producing any stock. 

 There were also ten vessels measuring 431.23 tons which were idle throughout this year although 

 employed in fishing in 1880. Included in the active fleet are several vessels which were lost 

 during the year after making one or more fishing trips. The total losses for the year 1879, 

 which was a very disastrous one, were twenty-nine vessels, measuring 1,893.36 tons, and 249 men. 



