176 



GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



fishery, the Bay of Fundy catch to the shore fishery, and the figures in the Bank fishery including 

 Grand and Western Banks, Banquereau, the Cape Shore, and other distant fisheries: 



* Sea -packed. 



t Inspected. 



" For the closing five months of 1881, the shore fleet landed at this port 983,500 pounds hake, 

 580,000 pounds pollock, 324,000 pounds haddock, and 40,000 pounds cusk ; total shore fish other- 

 wise than cod, 1,933,000 pounds; shore herring catch, 8,032 barrels. 



"The fish receipts at this port from Maine and the Provinces during the last four mouths of 

 the year were as follows: 9,370 quintals hake, 8,030 quintals codfish, 2,905 quintals haddock, 25 

 barrels herring; 32 barrels fish-oil; 5,500 boxes smoked herring." 



LOSSES OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. The Gloucester fisheries have been prosecuted only at the 

 risk of life and property. Each year has its dark record of disasters, and many are the sad hearts 

 in Gloucester who mourn husband, father, or brother lost on the fishing banks. The George's 

 fishery has been the most disastrous of any single fishery. In a single gale in February, 1879, 

 13 vessels were lost with 143 men, leaving 50 widows and 115 children to watch in vain for their 

 return. The years 1862, 1871, 1S73, 1875, 1876, and 1879 have very dark records. The help'ess 

 ones left behind are assisted by the generous contributions of warm hearts all over the land. A 

 charitable organization exists in Gloucester known as the Fishermen's Widows and Orphans Aid 

 Society, which annually distributes irioueys contributed by the fishermen, who give J of 1 per cent, 

 of their gross earnings for this purpose. 



The total losses in the Gloucester fisheries during the period from 1830 to 1881, as recorded in 

 the Fishermen's Own Book, published at Gloucester, has been 2,249 lives and 419 vessels. These 

 vessels were valued at $1,810,710, and were insured for $1,355,418. The yearly record of losses is 

 as follows: 



