MASSACHUSETTS: PLYMOUTH DISTRICT. 223 



Tlie school was at once established at Plymouth, and until 1077 was supported from the pro- 

 ceeds of the Cape fishery. From 1077 until the union of Massachusetts with Plymouth Colony, in 

 1092, the proceeds of the fishery revenue were divided among several towns, to be used for the same 

 object ; since 1092 the fisheries have been free.* 



In 1879 the fisheries of Plymouth employed one hundred and eighty-two men, and a capital of 

 about $02,000. The value of the various fishery products was about $53,000. These products 

 included 9,128 quintals of dry cod, 357,500 lobsters, 5,000 bushels of clams, and 4,504 gallons of 

 fish oil. The fishing fleet consisted of ten vessels, aggregating 649.57 tons, one idle vessel, 54.58 

 tons, and fifty-five boats in the shore fisheries. 



EL THE DISTRICT OF BARNSTABLE. 



73. REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES OF CAPE COD. 



CAPE COD AND ITS FISHERIES. The county of Barnstable, which comprises the customs dis- 

 trict of the same name, includes all of Cape Cod from Sandwich to Provincetowu and Wood's 

 Holl. This cape has a coast line nearly 150 miles in extent, with few good harbors, and most of 

 these are difficult to enter. The harbor at Provincetown, however, is an excellent one, easy of 

 entrance, and well sheltered, and is much frequented by coasting and fishing vessels. 



Most of the towns on Cape Cod are more or less interested in the boat fisheries, though the 

 vessel fisheries are confined to the leading ports, of which Provincetown is the most important. 

 The entire fleet of vessels numbers 190 sail, of 12,489.19 tons. Of this number 171 vessels, of 

 10,355.68 tons, are employed in the capture of cod, mackerel, or other food-fish ; 2 vessels, of 123.09 

 tons, are engaged throughout the season in the oyster-carrying trade; and 20 vessels, of 1,938.92 

 tons, follow the whale fishery. The fleet of whalers is owned at Provincetown. These vessels are 

 of the smaller class, and cruise exclusively in the Atlantic Ocean. The number owned here during 

 the past 40 years, has ranged from 10 to 53 sail ; the latter number was in 1808; in 1850 the fleet 

 was reduced to 10 sail. 



The shore fisheries of Cape Cod employ 1,100 boats, 2,262 gill-nets, 32 haul-seines, 44 weirs or 

 pounds, and 3,000 lobster and eel traps. The catch of the shore fishermen includes a great variety 

 of edible fish, besides numerous species used only for manure. Lobster-catching is carried on to 

 some extent, but is not as profitable as in districts farther north. Clams were formerly taken in 

 much larger quantities than at present. The oyster business was once an important element in the 

 fisheries of Cape Cod, but is now comparatively unimportant, except as regards the carrying-trade, 

 which gives employment to mackerel vessels during the winter season. In the winter of 1S79-'80 

 the number of Cape Cod schooners in this business was forty-six, owned at Wellfleet and Province- 

 town. Ingersoll reports the following facts concerning this fleet : 



" This list of forty-six schooners comprises, I think, the whole of the Cape oyster fleet ; and there 

 are few vessels engaged outside of these ports. They were noted in the old days, as now, for their 



"The custom-house records for the past one hundred years and over are in a fine state of preservation, and quite 

 complete; are mostly large calf-bound books, such as we do not often see of that early date. For much information 

 from them and otherwise wo are indebted to Samuel H. Doten, collector; Charles O. Churchill, deputy collector; 

 George Harlow, and J. R. At wood, fish merchants. 



