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History

 

Gloucester Fishing Industry—1800s

historical timeline of the fishing industry in gloucester

 

1811 —€“ 20+ ton Pinkies (pinky) were built for fishing then sharpshooters

1812–1814 — Gloucester ships were being captured or destroyed by the British

1814 —€“ During War of 1812, the British attacked Cape Ann capturing vessels along the wharves and held for ransom of $200 each. Three more attacks occurred during the war, the most notable at Sandy Bay (Rockport).

1816 — 30+ ton ships were built called jiggers for mackerel fishing

1819 —€“ Gloucester Fishing Company started and built 6 schooners

1845 —€“ ice packing becomes common for bringing fresh fish to market instead of salt packing

1845 — “€œSquare sterns”€ built replacing the pinky—then half-clippers—then regular clippers.

1848 —€“ purse seine invented and seine fishing began

1850€™s —€“ schooners that went to Georges Bank were called Georgesmen

1850 —€“ 1st Gloucester owned clipper made in Essex

1851 —€“ Gloucester is the largest fishing port in the country with about 50 fishing companies

1858 —€“ trawls introduced for fishing

1861–1865 —€“ Civil War: high demand for fish increases price

1863 —€“ Confederate raiders destroyed 6 Cape Ann schooners on Georges Bank. The defensive forts of Gloucester were then repaired and manned.

1876 —€“ Francis Homans created Fernwood Lake for his icehouse business

1878 — The U.S. Fish Commission opened a permanent station in Gloucester, would eventually become the first seafood technology lab in the United States.

1879 —€“ gill netting started to be used and splitting and curing fish at sea started

1883 —€“ Howard Blackburn survived a winter gale at sea in a dory and rowed for many days to Newfoundland

1891 —€“ beam-trawling tested in Gloucester fleet, Fishermen’s Memorial Services initiated

1900s

  • HISTORY
  • Adventure’s History
    • Dory Fishing 1926-1953
    • Windjamming 1954-1988
    • National Historic Landmark 1988-present
  • Restoration
  • Gloucester Fishing Industry
    • 1600€™s
    • 1700€™s
    • 1800s
    • 1900€™s
  • Dory Fishing Gear
  • Skippy!


Thank You to our Partners

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National Trust of Historic Preservation Mass Humanities MassDevelopment Preserve America North Shore Chamber-Commerce Massachusetts Cultural Council Tall Ships America  Gloucester 400 Sp_EssexNat_2x

 

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Docked at: Maritime Gloucester Harriet Webster Pier, 23 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA
Mail to: The Gloucester Adventure, Inc., PO Box 1306, Gloucester, MA 01931
Office: Fitz Henry Lane House, 4 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA
Email: info@schooner-adventure.org | Phone: 978-281-8079
Copyright © The Gloucester Adventure, Inc | Header Photo © Cheryl Briscoe | Skippy Illustration © Rusty Kinnunen