other Gloucester fish firms

Another of the fish companies to eventually call Gloucester home was the Frank E. Davis Fish Company, which was located on Central Wharf. This fish firm entered into the business in 1885, and remained a vital entity in the industry until about 1959. Part of what set the Frank E. Davis company apart was its focus on conducting mailorder fish sales directly to consumers all across the country. This was possible, as by the time the firm adopted this sale method rail lines were running all across America, and it was far easier to ship product to many places.

As had Shute & Merchant, one of the adverstising items used by this fish company from the early 1900s through at least the mid 1930s was a small cookbook filled with recipes for each of the products sold. At least three of those had full-color illustrated covers.

(click on the image to see more items)

(click on the image to learn more)

(click on the image to learn more)

Established in 1888, the Crown Packing Company used the same concept as that of Frank E. Davis. Their products were caught and packed and shipped directly to the consumer, and unlike would be the case with today's businesses, they paid the freight and took payment only after you received the items and were satisfied. Crown Packing also offered a booklet called "Ocean Delicacies" that provided ways to prepare many dishes with their fish products.

The Gloucester Fresh Fish Company began operations in 1897, and it was one of the first fishing firms to deal in fresh fish. Prior to this most fish companies in Gloucester dealt with smoked and salted fish, so this helped to bring Gloucester into this part of the market. In 1900, the President of the company was Thomas J. Carroll, who was later a key part of the team running the Gorton-Pew Fisheries Company.

(click on the image to learn more)

(click on the image to learn more)

(click on the image to learn more)

Parmenter & Co., which may have orignally been Parmenter, Rice & Co., Stanwood & Co. and Reed & Gamage, were other fish companies that had their beginings in the mid to late 1800s. Reed & Gamage was one of four firms that chose to join forces and entered business as the Gorton-Pew Fisheries Company in 1906. Reed and Gamage had entered the fishing business in 1879, and was located on East Main Street.

(click on the image to learn more)

(click on the image to learn more)

(click on the image to learn more)

According to the 1892 History of Gloucester by Pringle, the Sylvanus Smith Company was one of the largest New England fisheries. The same book also noted that the Wm. H. Jordan firm was one of the most thoroughly equipped of the time. Members of the Merchant family -- relatives to part of those who established Shute & Merchant -- also worked for other long time Gloucester fish firms. Percy W. Merchant, who was employed by Shute & Merchant at the time that it merged with Gorton-Pew Fisheries, eventually went to work for Sylvanus Smith & Co. His brother Orlando had a history of work in the fishing industry, and eventually joined the Wm. H. Jordan & Co.

(click on the image to learn more)

W. W. Wixon, who also called Gloucester home, was another of the firms that marketed directly to the consumer.