[23] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 667 



their organization, carrying on their good work with greater or less ac- 

 tivity according to the demands made upon them. 



The most permanent of these are the Gloucester Fishermen's and 

 Seamen's Widows and Orphans Aid Society, and the Gloucester Fe- 

 male Charitable Association. 



The Gloucester Fishermen's and Seamen's Widows and Orphans 

 Aid Society was first organized in March, 1862, and since that time 

 the yearly collections have been as follows: 1862, $18,544; 1863, 

 $155; 1864, $7,500; 1865, $4,601; 1866, $4,913; 1867, $3,546; 1868, 

 $4,556; 1869, $4,897; 1870, $4,420; 1871, $4,020; 1872, $4,220; 1873, 

 $5,485; 1874, $5,192; 1875, $5,120; 1876, $4,605; 1877. $4,860; 1878, 

 $3,252; 1879, $18,559; 1880, $3,550; 1881, $3,900. 



Total receipts to 1881 $115, 895 



Funds held by society (invested) at close of the season, 1881 . . 20, 500 



Total expenditure in nineteen years 95, 395 



The amount raised in 1862 was by public subscription. The follow- 

 ing year the society tried to raise money from the fishermen by issu- 

 ing to them for the sum of $1 each certificates which entitled their fam- 

 ilies to receive benefit in case the one paying for the certificate should 

 be lost. This scheme did not work well. The fishermen were supersti- 

 tious about buying the certificates, and consequently only about 150 of 

 them were sold. The following year a percentage was charged, and the 

 same system, with slight modifications, has continued till the present 

 time. 



One-half of 1 per cent, is now deducted from the earnings of each fish- 

 erman that sails in the Gloucester vessels, and it is from this source 

 that the society now derives its income, with the exception of contribu- 

 tions, which are often of considerable magnitude. The total amount 

 collected from the fishermen by the firms is turned in at the end of each 

 season. 



The large collections made in 1879 were received chiefly from outside 

 sources. The various relief societies that sprang up in that calamitous 

 time collected about $30,000, most of which has since that year been 

 disbursed among the needy, the balance being invested and kept as a 

 reserve fund wherewith to meet any future exigency that may arise. 



An attempt was made in 1805 to induce the fishermen to become life 

 members by the payment of $10 each, but this project did not meet 

 with any greater favor than did the scheme for selling certificates. 



The following extract from the preface to the record-book of the so- 

 ciety gives a detailed history of its inception, the causes which led 

 to its organization, and subsequent changes in its methods of work- 

 ing : 



"In January, 186:', and in February, 1862, in consequence of severe 

 gales at sea, a great calamity fell upon the town of Gloucester. In Janu- 

 ary four vessels were lost, and in February (24th and 25th) sixteen more 



