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The Atlantic Fisherman magazine was established in 1921 on the premise that fishermen and producers needed a trade paper. It never deviated from a policy of being strictly a producers’ magazine and its major editorial content was the fishing industry, appealing to and read by men whose occupation was fishing. The underlying philosophy of Atlantic Fisherman was that fishermen desired a publication which related stories about fishing, the successes of fishermen, better fishing methods and which leavened with humor and matters of human interest.

The magazine proclaimed itself as “The Only Paper Devoted Exclusively to the Fishing Interests of the Atlantic Seaboard”. In advertising for subscriptions, the following material was set forth:

To keep in close touch with all that pertains to the fishing industry is not so much a matter of interest with you as it is sound business policy

To know the latest market conditions in te various lines of the fish trade

To get the personal gossip; the opinions and discussions of the trade

To learn what is new in producing and marketing methods; in office and shop procedure

To know what the government and states are doing for the industry

To receive at first hand all this is worth while – all that is vital in a the way of fish news

The Atlantic Fisherman office was located, originally, at 100 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. By 1926, the general and editorial offices had been moved to 62 Long Wharf, Boston, Mass. Ultimately, the business was re-located to Goffstown, New Hampshire where P.G. Lamson served as president and Gardner Lamson served as publisher and editor. The last issue of the Atlantic Fisherman was May, 1954.

The items in this collection were received in three separate accessions during the period 1986 through 1995 from Gardner Lamson, former publisher and editor of the Atlantic Fisherman. 

This Collection provides and interesting insight into the business operation and publication of the Atlantic Fisherman magazine and its relationship with the Gloucester and Boston fishing industry including specific businesses and associations.

The Collection consists primarily of copies of the Atlantic Fisherman, which was a magazine published monthly from February 1921 through May 1954. The collection includes copies of most issues except for some missing in the 1920s. the collection of photographs is quite extensive, generally related to the fishing industry and covers the same period of time as the magazine, 1920s-1950s. The business correspondence relates to ads, bills and correspondence with business and associations located in Gloucester and Boston, dated primarily 1926-1949.

Separations:

• 1 large unframed photograph of schooner – 28’ x 36”
• 1 large unframed “Map of Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Massachusetts September 11-23, 1848” 19”x 26”
• Framed photographs of various schooners in the International Fishermen’s Races (not located)
• “The Story of the International Fishermen’s races 1921-1931” complied from 40 issues (1921- 1934) of the Atlantic Fisherman Magazine by Gardner Lamson in 1986 (in three ring binder and located in library, 623.82 R12)
• Atlantic Fisherman magazine Feb. 1921- Aug. 1960 (some missing issues in 1920’s, located in library)
• Approximately 1450 photographic prints and images

The material is arranged in subject series and the correspondence, as appropriate, in chronological arrangement within each series. The photographs have been scanned and cataloged. The scanned images are stored digitally and the original photographs and negatives are kept in archival storage.

Series 1 Gloucester Master Mariners Association

a. A - D 1930 Year Book – prospective advertisers, acceptances, regrets, correspondence

b. E Correspondence, General 1927-1934

Series 2 Massachusetts Fisheries Association

a. Correspondence, General 1930-1943

Series 3 Atlantic Fisherman Magazine

a. Correspondence and ads 1928-1959

b. Tear sheets 1929-1935

c. Photographers 1930-1940

d. Booklet, Fishing Industry 1928

e. Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Co. 1934-1940

f. Atlantic Coast Fisheries Co. 1927-1941

Series 4 Gloucester, MA

a. Correspondence, General 1927-1958

b. Frank E. Davis Fish Co. 1931-1937

Series 5 Boston, MA

a. Correspondence, General 1926-1949

b. Fish Companies, Correspondence, General 1930-1944

i. Bay State Fishing Co. 1932-1941

ii. Booth Fisheries Corp. 1936-1941

iii. Federated Fishing Boats of America 1932-1933

iv. Fishing Masters’ Association 1930-1932

v. General Seafoods Corp. 1936-1941

vi. R. O’Brien & Co. 1944

vii. O’Hara Bros. Fillet & Fresh Fish Co. 1932-1933

Series 6 Publications

a. Atlantic Fisherman Feb. 1921- may 1954 (some missing issues in 1920s)

b. “The Story of the International Fishermen’s Races 1921-1931”

Series 7 Ephemera

a. Fishing Industry Year Book 1940-1945

b. Booklet, Packaged Fishery Products 1942

c. Information on Lobsters 1931-1937

d. Bulletins, booklets and Brochures 1926-1966

e. Seafood Buyer, newsletter 1938-1940

f. Designs, Plans and Blueprints

Series 8 Photographic prints

Series 9 Film Negatives

Series 1 Gloucester Master Mariners Association

Box 1

Folder 1

A. 1930 year Book – prospective advertisers

Folder 2

B. 1930 Year Book – acceptances

Folder 3

C. 1930 Year book – regrets

Folder 4

D. 1930 year Book – correspondence and ads

Folder 5

E. Correspondence, General 1927-1934

Series 2 Massachusetts Fisheries Association

Folder 6 Correspondence, General 1930-1934

Box 2

Folder 1 Correspondence, General 1935-1943

Series 3 Atlantic Fisherman Magazine

Folder 2

A. Correspondence and ads 1928-1959

Folder 3

B. Tear sheets 1929-1935

Folder 4

C. Photographers 1930-1940

Folder 5

D. Booklet, Fishing Industry 1928

Folder 6

E. Atlas imperial Diesel Engine Co. 1934-1940

Box 3

Folder 1

F. Atlantic Coast Fisheries Co. 1927-1941

Series 4 Gloucester, MA

A. Correspondence, General

Folder 2 1927-1934

Folder 3 1935 – 1958

B. Frank E. Davis Fish Co.

Folder 4 1931-1937

Series 5 Boston, MA

A. Correspondence, General

Folder 5 1926-1939

Box 4

Folder 1 1940-1949

B. Fish Companies, Correspondence, General 1930 -1944

Folder 2

i. Bay State Fishing Co. 1932-1941

Folder 3

ii. Booth Fisheries corp. 1936-1941

Folder 4

iii. Federated Fishing Boats of America 1932-1933

Folder 5

iv. Fishing Masters’ Association 1930-1932

Folder 6

v. General Seafoods Corp. 1936-1941

Box 5

Folder 1

vi. R. O’Brien & Co. 1944

Folder 2

vii. O’ Hara bros. Fillet & Fresh Fish Co. 1932-1933

Series 5 Publications

In Library:

A. Atlantic Fisherman Feb. 1921-May 1954 On Journal shelf in Library

B. The Story of the International Fishermen’s Races 1921-1931

Series 7 Ephemera

Folder 3

A. Fishing Industry Year Book, 1940-1945

Folder 4

B. Booklet, Packaged Fishery Products 1942

Folder 5

C. Information on Lobsters 1931-1937

Box 6

Folder 1

D. Bulletins, Booklets, and Brochures 1926-1966

Folder 2

E. Seafood Buyer, newsletter 1938-1940

Folder 3

F. Designs, Plans and Blueprints