DANGEES OF THE FISHERIES. 129 



of cash, $5,623.09; in fuel, $1,165.24; provisions, $213.06; clothing and shoes, $258.12; amount 

 loaned, $500; paid for books, printing, &c,, $17.42; for treasurer and collector, $250 ; cash on hand, 

 $736.16. The number of families receiving assistance during the year was 193, and the number 

 taken off the list during the gear was 38. 



Gloucester has three other charitable societies, one of which, the Tenement Association for 

 Widows and Orphans, was organized in 1871. Its object is "to furnish, at moderate rate, homes 

 for the widows of our lost fishermen." It has erected, at a cost of $7,500, a building containing 

 ten tenements. This is a neat structure in the western part of the city, on "The Meadows." It 

 was, unfortunately, not built in a suflftciently central location and has not fully served the purpose 

 for which it was intended. The poor women are obliged to work for their living and this tenement 

 is too remote from the busy part of the town. 



The Gloucester Female Charitable Association was organized in 1834, for the purpose of assist- 

 ing the poor. Its funds are derived from annual memberships and donations. In 1875 it aided 

 126 families, most of which were those of fishermen. The financial report of this society for the 

 year 1879 shows receipts from contributions, $4,182.02; from assessments, interest, &c., $254.50; 

 cash on hand at beginning of year, $36.27 ; total, $4,472.79. The disbursements for the same year 

 were as follows: For groceries, $601.05; for dry goods, $307.53 ; for shoes; $541.50; for fuel, stoves, 

 meat, milk, &c., $499.03; invested, $2,500; cash on hand, $23.68; total, $4,472.79. The number 

 of garments distributed for the year was 1,145. 



The Gloucester EeUef Association was organized in 1877 for the relief of the deserving poor 

 of that city. It had no accumulated fund, but* depended upon voluntary contributions of the 

 benevolent to meet the pressing demands constantly made upon its charity. It has no salaried 

 officers. After the disastrous gale of February 20, 1879, the association made an appeal to its ear- 

 lier beneficiaries and to the charitable public for the relief of the 53 widows and 149 children thus 

 left dependent upon charity. The appeal was nobly responded to, the amount collected being 

 $6,846.04. Of this amount $6,496.37 was distributed to the needy, and the balance in the treas- 

 urer's hands in March, 1881, was $349.67. Besides the contributions of money, the association 

 received large quantities of clothing and provisions, which were given to the families of the fisher- 

 men. It is intended to make the association a permanent one, as there is constant need of its 

 kindly services. 



Apart from the organized charitable associations, much good work is done at Gloucester 

 in a more private way. What is known as the Cape Ann Advertiser Fund was contributed by 

 subscribers of that paper for the relief of sufferers by the gales of February and March, 1879. 

 This fund amounted to $671.59 and was the means of doing much good. At the same period the 

 Boston Theater Company sent a generous donation of money to Gloucester, which was disbursed 

 by the mayor, assisted by citizens.^ Collections have been taken in Gloucester churches from time 

 to time for the relief of suffering families of lost fishermen, and donations are frequently received 

 by Gloucester ministers from benevolent persons in other places. 



SEO IV 9 



