MASSACHUSETTS: GLOUCESTER DISTRICT. 159 



which created quite a talk, and people laughed at the idea of sending so large a vessel after haddock. 

 Notwithstanding the derision of his neighbors, Captain Douglass was very successful, securing 

 some excellent fares which he sold at 75 cents per hundred fish. Other vessels from time to time 

 entered this fishery, and as the demand for fresh haddock, and their value as a table fish have 

 been constantly increasing, a greater number of large vessels have engaged in their capture until 

 now the haddock fleet includes many of the best vessels of Gloucester. 



THE MENHADEN BAiT-FiSHEKY. Gloucester vessels were formerly engaged in the menhaden 

 fishery, and sold most of their catch to cod and mackerel vessels, to be used for bait. In 1873 some 

 forty vessels owned here procured CO,OGO barrels of menhaden, that made 20,000 barrels of slivers, 

 worth $80,000. In 1879 one vessel followed the fishery with no success, and in 1880 none attempted 

 it. The failure of the menhaden to make their appearance on the coast of Maine and Massachu- 

 setts since 1878 has proved a serious loss to the large oil factories on the coast of Maine, as well as 

 to the fleet of fishing vessels that formerly obtained an ample supply of bait near home, but that 

 are now compelled to spend several days and sometimes a week or more in search of bait along the 

 coast. During the year 1879 it is estimated that each vessel engaged in the George's cod fishery 

 lost two months' time in searching for bait. They sometimes cruised as far south as Greenport, 

 Long Island, and as far east as Cape Sable, before bait could be procured. The menhaden vessels 

 were known in Gloucester as the "seining" or "baiting" fleet. They sometimes anchored in the 

 rivers and bought the menhaden whole of the net or weir fishermen, and slivered them on the 

 vessel, salting the slivers in barrels. The method of slivering was very simple. With the head of 

 the fish in his left hand and a knife in his right hand, the workman cut a slice from each side of the 

 body, leaving the head, backbone, and tail to be thrown away. When not obtained by purchase, 

 the menhaden were taken with purse-seines, in about the same manner as mackerel. 



THE SQUID BAIT-FISHERY. The common squid (Loligo Pealii Les.), found along the south side 

 of Cape Cod and in Vineyard Sound, has been used to some extent as bait by the Gloucester fisher- 

 men. In 1877 Gloucester vessels began visiting these localities, and after procuring cargoes of squid 

 took them to Saint Pierre, Newfoundland, where they were sold for bait to the French fishermen. 

 The first vessel to engage in this business was the schooner Pescadore, Capt. Charles Dagle, in the 

 spring of 1877. About 120 barrels of squid were obtained from the traps along the coast, and after 

 being salted were taken to Saint Pierre. The venture proved a profitable one, and in 1878 the Siime 

 vessel made another voyage, securing about 150 barrels. In 1879 a fleet of eight Gloucester vessels 

 embarked in this new enterprise. The season proved an unprofitable one, squid being so scarce 

 that the entire fleet procured only about 300 barrels. The most fortunate vessels, the schooner 

 Crest of the Wave, Capt. James Melanson, and schooner Joseph Story, Capt. Charles Dagle, obtained 

 each 75 barrels of squid, while the remaining six vessels, schooners Cadet, Capt. James Anderson; 

 Piscataqua, Capt. Benjamin Cook; Lizzie J. Jones, Capt. Peter Thebadau; Massena, Capt. Daniel 

 Norwood ; Bay State, Capt. Thomas Goodwin; and Carrie F.Butler, Capt. Theodore Parsons, secured 

 only about 20 barrels apiece, and made losing voyages. Most of this fleet proceeded to Saint Pierre, 

 where they sold their small cargoes and obtained small fares of squid by purchase at ports in New- 

 foundland. Several of the vessels were fitted for netting the squid in Provincial waters, but were 

 prevented by mobs from using the seines. The schooner Bay State encountered a mob at Saint 

 Ann's and the Cadet at Aspee Bay. Both of these vessels, as also others of the fleet, afterwards 

 purchased squid of the natives and sold them to French fishermen, thus in a measure preventing 

 the total failure of their voyage. In 1880 two vessels, the schooners J. J. Clark and Joseph Story, 

 went to Vineyard Sound, secured 447 barrels of squid, took them to Saint Pierre, and made profitable 

 trips, afterwards buying squid at Cape Breton and selling them to the French. Two or three other 



