Union Marine Railway Journal, 1875-1894

Complete transcription done by Provincetown History Project volunteer Julia Louise Perry of a Journal kept by the Union Marine Railway from 1875 to 1894 of ships that sold fish to the Railway. The Journal is part of the Pilgrim Monument Collection. The Journal identifies the ship names (Actress, Crystal Wave, etc.) as well as the names of the ship owners (Paine, Nickerson, Conwell, Wareham, Rogers, Freeman, Cook, Rich, Snow, etc.), the number of tons bought, the price, and in some cases the number of days the ship was out. There are extensive references to the Union Wharf Company - a collective of fishermen - and to Nathaniel Hopkins as their Agent. Although the ships are primarily schooners, it is significant that partway through the Journal the ships start to be Steamers - indicating the beginning of the end of the era of sailing ships.

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Atlantic Cod fishing, Atlantic Fisherman, Boats and boating, Business Records, Captains, Cetacean (Schooner), Fish trade--Massachusetts--Provincetown, Fishermen, Fishers, Fishers--Massachusetts--Provincetown, Fishing, Fishing boats--Massachusetts--Provincetown, Provincetown (Mass.)--History--18th century, Provincetown (Mass.)--History--19th century, Railroads, Schooners, Shipping, and Business