Gloucester played its role and did its duty in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812 but suffered great economic consequences. The ability to fish, in terms of ships and men, had been diminished and the Grand Banks was inaccessible.
The treaty of 1818 between the United States and Great Britain reopened the Grand Banks to to American fishing and In 1819 ,Citing a need to maintain a Navy, Congress offered fishermen a bounty to Fish. Shortly thereafter in Boston nine Gloucester men incorporated, The Gloucester Fishing Company looking to go after Cod . Other Gloucester fishermen looked to fish mackerel on Georges Bank. Additionally, Gloucester merchants continued to develop their trade between themselves and Surinam as well as other locales as far away as Asia.
As the American system began to see its investment in the internal waterways of the state, port cities like Newburyport, Beverly, Lynn, Salem and Boston shifted their maritime pursuits away from fishing. This lured even more Captains. Ships, and fisherman to our harbor.
This focus on fishing and the sea is why the Gloucester Telegraph claimed in its first issue in 1827 that “No other town in the nation produces as many ship masters” and “we may safely rely on these gentlemen to afford us with very important commercial intelligence and in return we hope to make their reputation their reward.”
In 1828, Politics and industry met in the so called “Tariff of Abominations”. The Bill, passed in Congress and signed by Adams, protected New England industry but lost Adams the 1828 election.
The Gloucester Telegraph
January 1st, 1827
Volume 1, Edition #1
The Gloucester Telegraph
November 29th, 1828
Volume 2, Edition #49
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