Gloucester's Golden Age Of Fishing: Part 1 (1623 - 1923)

Fishing has long been an essential feature of Cape Ann since long before English settlers came here in 1623. Nearly 400 years later it could be considered the most significant element of her historical narrative. The purpose of this story is to look back at a key turning point of fishing life in Gloucester Massachusetts; the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. This first part in the two part series addresses the 300 year period of sail fishing leading up to this pivotal time.

[@gordonagent7037]

I’m no fisherman, not even a sailing person at all but I can remember watching captain’s courageous as a boy and falling head over heals in love with the Gloucester schooners, what a beautifully fair lady they were as they drove forward until the strain of a full catch and all the canvas they could hang, you need to dream a little, to imagine how exhausted those sailors must have been and yet the drive and determination to be the first ship back to port. Those were the days where men were men and the line between life and death was so fine.

[@jerryrobinson7265]

Wooden ships, iron men.

[@alandb2481]

I clicked on the video because I used to live in Gloucester. It sounded interesting because I wasn't aware of significant fishing taking place there. Gradually it dawned on me that it was referring to a place in the US, rather than the original Gloucester in England! :)

[@kellyhiggins4234]

Born and raised in Gloucester and having my beautiful cousin Jodi whom sadly, loss her husband Captain Billy Tyne which the movie The Perfect Storm was made after him, his crew all lost at sea on the Angela Gail , remains forever etched within all famlies involved hearts. The Gloucester Fiesta is getting set up as I type this and this feista is close to many of hearts especially, those of my generation being, I feel we are the last of the true old style festivities. It was a huge celebration we dressed for 3 days to the nines now days noone dresses as though it would be Easter for three days. Even the blessing of the fleets seem to not be held with the number one importance of having our ocean blessed as well as our boats . All because fishing has changed along with the times. Today, I went to visit my brothers grave this time of the year hits my heart hard especially being, that one of my brothers the baby won a couple times on the old greasy pole and when he decided to walk it at 40 yrs old so that his boys could see their once champion dad walk that pole. Well, it became one of the best days of his life because he won !! His guardian angels stood by his side and his sons will never forget their dad not only winning for a second time but, that he did so at the age of 40. This all said, I sat down and actually said to myself, I'm from Gloucester have heard stories but, lets see what Gloucester history has on these websites and I found this and loved it. Thank you for doing such a great job. I also found out who the local fisherman was that modeled for our Fishermen at the wheel statue , Captain Clayton Morrissey, Capt. Of the Effie M. Morrissey, artist was Leonard Craske, to which I am now off to learn about this sculptor/artist. Again, thank you to all and a huge hug and thank you to Mr. Ron Gilson ❤

[@3rwparks3]

I feel home sick after watching this. I was born in Gloucester in 1951. And I was in my thirties when I left. Well Done Ron !!

[@kennethstickney8819]

Did you have a. sister Sandy?

[@sailorbychoice1]

My grandfather worked for the Story Shipyard in Essex and was instrumental in building Columbia (he was a master shipwright but mainly a highly thought of ship's caulker ( many considered him the best caulker in New England ) ), he was a 2nd or 3rd cousin to Old A.D. Story. During the Great Depression he didn't take a weekly salary for his work, but took a share in the fishing boats he helped build as did Old A.D.

[@ChimeraActual]

Thank you for mentioning Essex, and the Story shipyard, many of the great Gloucester schooners, and other ships were built on the Essex river. My brother and I spent some of our youth in Essex and later were shipwrights, for at least part of our working lives.My brother worked for Brad Story before going on to carbon fiber bicycles, and I worked on the Columbus ships in Corpus Christi (an unmitigated disaster) before discovering that computer programing was logically identical to building a boat, and paid better.

[@Jambo4110]

VERY interesting and informative material here. CLASSIC historic photos from the past. Waiting for Part 2!

[@theeravooth]

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[@robertclark2923]

Absolutely a great great story thanks so much for taking the time to share with us.

[@jacksprat3009]

Interesting story. A hard life on beautiful ships. It was said when fishing the Grand Banks was at its prime , you could almost walk across the water on the backs of the many fish there.. When you make your living fishing, you don't want to believe the supply of fish has limits, but it does. as the world's populations increased more fish were required and technologies fulfilled the demand util the Grand Banks and fishing areas around the world were fished out and that is where we are today.

[@trekriderful6]

I was fortunate enough to experience seine fishing as a crew member on the Saint Ann when I was 15 years old in 1958. Captain Leo Favaloro was a tough, gentle man who was kind enough to tolerate my inexperience as a crew member allowing me to earn money for college. I was raised in Gloucester and did not truly appreciate the fishing industry history until long after I left. My experiences at sea are unforgettable and the men who called themselves Gloucester fishermen are the bravest I have ever known. Bob Kain

[@MrKirbyEnterprises]

So it's safe to assume you were born around 1943?

[@harryschaefer5887]

I always enjoyed walking around the boatyard on the day we sanded the bottom and re-painted the hull of Triton "Jubilant". Seeing the hulls of all the sailboats out of water taught me that a hull (the part beneath the water surface) is just as beautiful, maybe even more beautiful than what is seen above the water.

[@robertburke6174]

Can’t help but think of a childhood favourite film - Captains Courages.

[@Richnsoul]

Ive just finished reading Captain Courageous , and watched these to learn the true history of the fishing fleets and their communities. Fascinating stories Ron, many thanks . I hope to visit Glousester Mass: one day. R from England.

[@jiyushugi1085]

Stirling Hayden's autobiography 'Wanderer' gives a good look of the life. He was a hard-core sailor/fisherman before he became a famous actor.

[@mikewhalen7590]

My great-great grandfather was skipper of the Harry L. Belden in 1892...won 'The Race it Blew' to commemorate Gloucester's anniversary. We had his silver cup for ages but donated it to the PEM.

[@markobrien690]

Mike, any relation to,"Bat"?

[@mikewhalen7590]

@@markobrien690 Not that I am aware of. I've hit some roadblocks in my research.

[@harryschaefer5887]

The lookout crewman standing on the top stay @ 20:28 has a great view and massive cajones!

[@dirkvandertoornvandertoorn4895]

I am a old dutch Fisherman really love this film thanks a.

[@melobstah11]

Well done!!!

[@kris2435]

Thanks for sharing

[@rodneycaupp5962]

This video is amazing. Now I want to build a small boat...

[@philpaige9770]

My late wife's grandfather was lost in a dory on the Green Banks off the schooner Theodore Rosevelt in I think Feb, 1909. His name was Stobin (Stopin) and had been born in Germany but arrived in Gloucester via Nova Scotia. His wife (born at Arichatt, NS) had lost her first husband to the ocean as well and thus was left with 10 children, the youngest being only a year old. Our daughter spent two long summers in SE Alaska long lining for salmon with a Captain friend. It's in the genes.

[@MrKirbyEnterprises]

As a resident of Gloucester Massachusetts, I am proud to say that it has been 400 years since the foundation of the town. The fish they bring in is always drawing in customers. I can say the same thing about Rockport too.

[@elizasbusiness6442]

Good work

[@Tiger-jt1qm]

Well done

[@pauldegregorio6432]

Excellent! I was in your fair city a week ago enjoying a walk on the beach, baked haddock at The Causeway and a St. Joseph’s sub at Virgilio’s! I have been in love with Cape Ann my whole life and this piece was a great addition to its history. I’ll be there for two weeks this summer and would like to visit Pine’s grave and learn more of the nautical history. Any advice? Gloucester Museum? Hanging out at The CrowsNest?🤣

[@jupitercyclops6521]

Hmmm. Your fetish is strange to me, but I don't judge & admire your outspoken pride of the condition.

[@paulrodgers5559]

@@jupitercyclops6521 Head downtown Gloucester and spout such blither.

[@BillChild2njoy]

Very cool look at these world racing gems.. I thought I recognized Kiki nice.

[@fandangofandango2022]

Love this Great History.

[@Arational]

My ancestors settled in Marblehead, 12 miles from Gloucester. They fished and sailed from there until they were driven out by revolution and their lands stolen. They got out with just their ships and sailed to Nova Scotia.

[@nopasaranexetercityfc4666]

Bet that's not taught in schools.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Their stolen lands stolen. The irony.

[@frankgilbert9907]

Please explain how that happened.

[@atstancioff]

Excellent film. Maybe should be called the Golden Age of Overfishing.

[@phibber]

I live on west shore of lake michigan,30 miles from the bay of green bay,an elderly man named Sid herman wrote an article in 1970,about being a very young lad and meeting an old old fisherman. In 1900 the old man was a teenager who would row a boat alongside a fishing vessel on the bay, they would offload catch up to the gunwhales. He would row to shore, and off load to the market, then repeat several times per day. 4-6 Other kids were doing the same thing.That old man told Sid herman that they believed with all their heart that the bay would never be fish out. but it is..............

[@Mearthsphere]

i totally agree. its kinda all we had in Gloucester since us sicilian family moved there, it was kinda 'the other side of the tracks' . poor low class garbage. both sides are truly tragic.

[@wadestanton]

The guy with froze off fingers smoking the cigar, sometimes the big boats would lose the smaller boats in the fog. The guys in the smaller boats would row for a long time, some for the rest of their lives.

[@kennethstickney8819]

The Lone Voyager Howard Blackburn

[@wadestanton]

@@kennethstickney8819 lol I almost gave it away, again. When you're close to the end do you have to give up your books?

[@Yeaitstemp]

Image what the seas where like 200 300 years ago so much life and it can recover

[@psychologicalsigma9917]

It will, once the sea unites against it's obvious foe. Us

[@nopasaranexetercityfc4666]

LOL Thought it was Glozzer in England, late starters ! Interesting doc though.

[@dks13827]

How long would a race take ? How far ?

[@walterbenson5275]

GREAT (IRON MEN) !!!

[@donaldcarletonjr.9047]

The title of this documentary should be amended to reflect the content. It TOTALLY skips over the first 300 years of the Cape Ann fishery...

[@beernd4822]

And it only talkes about racing, I thought it would be about fishing.

[@markobrien690]

@@beernd4822 Yes, big disappointment. Expected much more about fishing.

[@gingermariemccullough2349]

Hogans Life As A Hero ★ing

[@harryschaefer5887]

The front page headline about 14 year old victim of gun accident Oct. 10, 1938. Some things never change.

[@robertevans9897]

I thought this was about Gloster engla6

[@ALex-yv8xw]

The netters killed fishing .....it's sad

[@theirritatedirishman5440]

Grandfather “Big Mike O’Hearn” was a Captain and fisherman outta Gloucester for decades! Beautiful images

[@anthonyrebock5351]

Always and because the money Barons, bank owners can buy anything with printed easy cash out of thin air and the rezt of the world with no other means have to sacrifice for a bsnk dollah

[@harryofla]

The claim that Gloucester was the world's leading fishing port in 1945 is dubious. The Noth Sea fleet based in north east Britain was massive and the port of Hull in Yorkshire also lays claim to being the word leader in fish landed. Much like Gloucester boats from the entire East coat would land their catches in Hull because of the proximity to the industrial headland of England and thei infrastructure to get the fish to the consumer. Would make an interesting documentary.

[@flemingcourt]

That's tha Amaricans fo ya!

[@petem.3719]

So let's get into a pissing match about who managed to drive their fish populations to commercial extinction first.

[@jaysonlima7196]

Without leaving the US or even Massachusetts it's a dubious claim with New Bedford and Boston in the running

[@douglasthompson8927]

did you know that English fishermen possibly made it to the Grand Banks before 1492 ?

[@corkcamden9878]

Very engrossing... your vignettes contain some very fine photographs which illustrate your story and underline your script. Your hard work on this series has paid off and give your audience a fine representation of the lives of Gloucester women and men who put their indelible stamp on our nation's history. I have been very critical but I believe you will use some (maybe none) of my criticism to fine-tune your story telling. Thanks for a very informative ride. Stay well and please continue exploring other subjects. Best regards, Va. Cork

[@gigabilitydontask1549]

None of America's commercial fishing will be of golden age anymore commercial fishing has been rubbed out

[@mikepoteet1443]

Why are you making me read!

[@brmillgr]

Love of money is the root of all evil

[@stuarth43]

your timber boats were good, good lines the transition to metal resulted in crappy vessels, ugly, UK Germany France Scotland built wonderful fishing vessels as they still do today, yes the wonderful sweeping sheerlines of the distant water trawlers have surrendered to the might and safety of the stern trawler, Show me a good looking USA or Canadian mfv and the UK fleet was its strongest in 1960s

[@user-dl9ti5wk5q]

ץ

[@dougacebedo3855]

golden age of big wigs what about the fishing.

[@scomo532]

The golden age will never return, because the fish are gone. New. Bedford and scallops are king nowhere

[@rolandscales9380]

Ah. The wrong Gloucester.

[@jupitercyclops6521]

I don't care for sea food. Something about it....it's just too fishy.

[@johnryan2193]

An age of greed . Leave nothing for the future.

[@sjoncb]

Over fishing 👎

[@Spothface]

Hey Ron Gibson. You voted in to unionize and that vote sealed the deal to one day doom your industry. If you are a Proud Union member still then you are guilty of your own demise and you have no one to blame but yourself. That said, Good Job on this video. It was interesting.