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History

 

Gloucester Fishing Industry—1900s

historical timeline of the fishing industry in gloucester

 

1900 —€“ fishing catch nearly 140 million pounds, 1st fishing vessel with auxiliary engine

1902 —€“ 1st knockabout schooner built in Essex and designed to improve safety for fishermen

  — first large steam-powered fishing vessel built

1905 — introduction of the otter trawl revolutionized the fishing on New England banks

1915 —€“ fish landed 120 million lbs

1920 —€“ International Fishermen’s Races started

1920€™s — fleet started to convert to internal combustion engines, mostly diesel. Steam-powered vessels never used successfully in Gloucester except harbor tugs, etc. The coal took up too much space.

1921 —€“ US Naval Compass Station provides radio compass bearings to vessels

1923 —€“ Gloucester’s 300th Anniversary Celebrations included dedication of Fishermen’s Statue (installed 1925)

1924 — Clarence Birdseye invented the fast-freezing method starting frozen fish processing

1926 —€“ 1st St. Peter’€™s Fiesta celebrated in Gloucester

1926 —€“ Schooner Adventure built in the James Shipyard in Essex for Capt. Jeff Thomas

1934 — Capt. Jeff Thomas dies of heart attack on Schooner Adventure, Leo Hynes takes over as captain

1938 —€“ automatic fish scaling machine introduced

1941–1945 —€“ local boats commandeered by government for patrol boats and mine sweepers

1941 —€“ dory fishing replaced by draggers

1944 — The War Manpower Commission encourages €œemployees to adapt more fishing jobs to the employment of women… in fish processing plants that formerly was considered for men only.”

1945 —€“ first blessing of the fleet

1954 —€“ Schooner Adventure bought by Donald Hurd, Dayton Newton and Herbert Beizer and converted into a passenger schooner

1965–1987 —€“ Schooner Adventure sailing in Maine for pleasure trips under Capt. Jim Sharp

1966 — Congress passed Public Law 89-658, extending the U.S. fisheries zone 9 miles beyond the 3-mile territorial sea, making a full 12-mile zone exclusive for U.S. fishing

1969 — Gloucester Technological Laboratory began pioneering a study of fish irradiation to extend shelflife

1970 — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) formed, and The Gloucester Technological Laboratory is moved under the Division of Fishery Products Technology, Office of Management Services.

1975 — The Mid-Atlantic Center is incorporated into the Northeast Fisheries Center, including the former Gloucester Technological Laboratory.

1976 — Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Public Law 94-265, passed regulating fishing to protect overfished species

1982 —€“ minimum size limits set for cod, haddock, and gray sole

1987 —€“ new minimum size limits set for cod, haddock, and gray sole

1988 — Schooner Adventure given to Gloucester

1989 —€“ Schooner Adventure listed in state Register of Historic Landmarks

1991 —€“ “Perfect Storm”€ fishing vessel Andrea Gail lost

1992 —€“ New England Fishery Management Council announces measures to reduce fishing fleet

1994 –€“ 5000 miles of Georges Bank closed to fishing, only 3 fish processors left in Gloucester

1995 —€“ purse-seine quotas cut by 25%

1997 —€“ Magnuson Act of 1976, regulating fishing to protect overfished species, renewed (200 mile limit)

  • 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