142 GEOGRAPHICAL EEVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



At Milk Island, and at other points off the shore, floating traps are set for the capture princi- 

 pally of herring and mackerel. This is a recent and not extensive fishery in this region, only one 

 trap producing any amount in 1879, the other two that Avere set proving failures because of hostile 

 opposition to this mode of fishing. The value of the traps was $1,500; number of men employed, 

 eight; and value of the fish taken, $1,800. 



The town possesses facilities for the quick distribution of fresh fish, being at the terminus of 

 the railroad by which the fish are shipped to Boston and other places. There are five firms engaged 

 in curing and packing fish, about two-thirds of their business consisting of salt fish that are mostly 

 sold to Gloucester firms; the remaining third of their business is in fresh fish, principally cod and 

 haddock. Three vessels, measuring 1G0.81 tons, and valued at $2,900, are employed in freighting 

 fish and salt between Eockport, Gloucester, and other places. 



Eockport has the honor of first producing isinglass from hake sounds, which is now in great 

 demand by the brewers all over the country. A small factory was erected here and this industry 

 started as early as 1821 or 1822, though the business was limited until about 1870, when large 

 factories were erected and the manufacture largely increased. The first method of making the 

 isinglass was to reduce the sounds to a pulp by grinding and then press the mass between large 

 wooden rollers. The rollers were at first turned by hand, then horse-power was employed, and from 

 time to time other improvements have been introduced. The rollers are now made of iron, being 

 hollow cylinders through which cold water is allowed to pass to prevent the pulp from sticking to 

 them, and are turned by steam. At present the sounds of codfish, weakfish, and various imported 

 species are used in connection with hake sounds. 



In 1879 there was only one factory in operation in Eockport, though there were several 

 in other parts of the State. Another business related to this is the manufacture of glue from 

 salt fish skins. These two industries in 1879 represented about $50,000 capital and a product 

 valued at $64,000. The number of persons employed was forty. In the fall of 1880 some Boston 

 parties came to Eockport and started a new isinglass factory. 



From the rocks along the shores a considerable quantity of Irish moss is annually gathered. 

 During 1879 three men from Scituate, Mass., secured here $300 worth of that article. Seaweed 

 is gathered by the farmers for fertilizing purposes. The cotton factory in the town was for many 

 years busily employed in the manufacture of canvas for sails and tents. 



Since the first settlement of the villages in 1G95, when a grant of land was made to John 

 Babson "to sett up fishing upon," Eockport has depended largely upon the fisheries for the sup- 

 port of the inhabitants. The absence of a suitable harbor for the accommodation of larger craft 

 led the people to engage in shore or boat fishing rather than to send vessels to the offshore banks, 

 and this branch of the fisheries has continued the favorite occupation of the people, though within 

 thirty years the business has greatly decreased. A few Bank schooners and a considerable fleet 

 of small craft being owned here in 1743, a wharf was built for their safety, and in 1746 another 

 one was constructed. As they were made on the outside of logs, filled up with stones, they went 

 to pieces in a few years. In 1810 a corporation was formed, called the Sandy Bay Pier Company, 

 for the purpose of constructing an artificial harbor, which was accomplished at an expense of 

 $30,000. At the North Village or Pigeon Cove a breakwater and pier were built in 1831 which 

 cost $25,000. 



According to the State census of 1865 the principal industry of the town, like that of Glou- 

 cester, was the fishing business. We find that Eockport, in that year, employed in the cod 

 and mackerel fisheries, thirty-seven vessels, aggregating 1,386 tons, and manned by 343 men. 



