128 FISHEEMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The most important and most efficient of these is the Gloucester Fishermen's and Seamen's 

 Widows and Orphans Aid Society. This was first organized in March, 1862, as the Widows and 

 Orphans Fund Society, and since that date the yearly collections have been as follows: 1862, 

 $18,544; 1803, $155; 1864, $7,500; 1865, $4,001; 1866, $4',913; 1867, $3,546; 1868, $4,556; 18C9, 

 $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 the society (invested) at close of season, 1881, $20,500. Total 

 expenditure in nineteen years, $95,395. 



In 1862 the money was raised by public subscription. The terrible gales in January and 

 February of that year resulted in a loss to Gloucester of twenty vessels and one hundred and forty 

 men, leaving seventy-five widows and one hundred and sixty fatherless children needing aid. A 

 meeting of the citizens was held in the Town Hall and a committee appointed to distribute circulars 

 stating the facts and calling for eubscriptions. In response to this call money was received from 

 various parts of the country, a generous citizen of Salem contributing $500; in other cities and 

 towns upwards of $10,000 was raised; and the people of Gloucester contributed more than $5,000. 

 About $8,000 of the receipts of the society that year were disbursed for the immediate relief of 

 sufferers, and the balance held as a fund for future needs. 



The following year, 1863, efforts were made to induce fishermen to join the society, and cer- 

 tificates were issued at $1 each which entitled their families to receive benefit in case the one paying 

 for the certificate should be lost. Owing to the superstitions of the fishermen this plan was not 

 very successful, only about one hundred and fifty of them beinginduced to buy the certificates. 

 In March, 1865, the society was reorganized under its present name, and established on a perma- 

 nent basis. An attempt was made at this time to induce the fishermen to become life members by 

 the payment of $10 each, but this plan met with no greater favor than selling certificates. 



The most successful plan for raising money, and the one still in force, was first attempted in 

 1864. By this method an assessment of ^ of 1 per cent, is made on the earnings of the fishermen. 

 This amount is deducted from the fisherman's share at the settling up of each trip, and the total 

 collections of the season are handed over to the society by the fishing firms at the end of each 

 year. Additional amounts are received from private contributions. The large collections of 1879 

 were very largely from outside sources. Several other aid societies were organized in that year, 

 and their total collections reached nearly $30,000. From $5,000 to $6,000 are now annually dis- 

 bursed by the Widows and Orphans Aid Society, a widow with three or four children receiving 

 $50, and smaller families about $30. Besides allowances of money, clothing and fuel to the 

 amount of $75 to $125 per family are distributed. The number of families receiving aid in 1874 

 was 120; in 1875, 135; in 1876, 136; in 1877, 157; in 1878, 134; in 1879, 208; in 1880, 193. 



The financial report of this society for 1879 shows contributions from abroad amounting 

 to $14,353.83; by legacy, $437.25; from fishing firms and other Gloucester subscribers for 1879, 

 $2,705.07; from interest, back subscriptions, and other sources, $2,397.78 ; total receipts, $19,893.93. 

 The amount paid out in cash allowances was $5,351.53 ; for fuel, $1,082.35 ; for clothing and shoes, 

 $378.41; provisions, $664.79 ; aid to Eockport families, $325 ; paid balance due treasurer, $965.80; 

 expenses, $310.77 ; invested, $9,000 ; cash on hand, $1,815.28 ; total, $19,893.93. The number of 

 families assisted was 208, of which number 109 were added during the year. There were 22 pack- 

 ages of clothing received and 860 garments distributed during the year. 



The annual report for 1880 shows receipts — from a friend, $500 ; from fishing firms for 1880, 

 $1,771.85; from back subscriptions, interest and other sources, $4,675.96; total receipts, including 

 cnsh on hand ($1,815.28) at beginning of year, $8,763.09. The disbursements were — in allowances 



