Fishes of Massachusetts. 451 
than those from the Straits of Belleisle,) constitute 
one hundred quintals, some conception may be form- 
ed of the immense number taken. At the usual price 
of these prepared fish, the above mentioned number 
of quintals would sell for $839,154. 
In 1837, according to the returns of the assessors 
of the several towns, it appears that there were taken 
510,554 quintals of cod fish, which were valued at 
$1,569,517. These fish were distributed among the 
following counties: Esser Co. took 159,424 quin- 
tals, valued at $501,363; Barnstable Co., 134,758 
= $392,930; Suffolk Co., 127,250 = $408,510; 
Plymouth Co., 64,172 — $193,664; Norfolk Co., 
15,950 = $46,050; Middlesex Co., 9000 = $27,- 
000. 
Besides these fishing vessels which go to the 
Banks for the Cod and their bounty, a great number - 
of boats are constantly employed in supplying the 
markets with fresh fish. Thus, at Duxbury, in 
1836, there were ten market boats having forty men 
on beard, which took from 38,000 to 40,000 fish. 
At Provincetown, there were ten boats thus engaged. 
Boston market is supplied with cod fish by about 
fifteen or twenty small schooners, and a large num- 
ber of boats. By the kindness of Capt. Nathaniel 
Blanchard, of Lynn, master of one of these smacks, 
I am enabled to furnish the following table, by 
which some idea may be formed of the amount of 
fresh cod fish brought to our market. He has pre- 
sented me the result of his labors with a vessel of 25 
tons, and a crew of six men, for nearly five months, 
eommencing October 24, 1836, and terminating 
