GLOUCESTER, Mass., city and port of entry of Essex County, near the extremity of Cape Ann, and on the Boston and Maine Rail road, 32 miles northeast of Boston. It is a popular summer resort and contains the Gilbert Hospital, Home for Aged Fishermen, Huntress Home, the Magnolia, Sawyer and public free libraries and several parks. It is one of the most important fishing ports and fish markets in the world, having over 500 vessels and 6,000 men engaged in the fisheries. Cod, haddock, halibut, herring and mackerel are the principal catches. Besides •extensive fisheries, the city has large manufactures of machinery, hard ware, hosiery, nets, sails, fish-glue, oil, shoes, twine and cigars. Shipbuilding and brass found ing and granite quarrying are also important industries. In 1914 87 establishments were in operation, with invested capital of $7,110,000, giving 'employment to 3,274 persons, and pay ing in salaries and wages $1,801,000. The
materials used were valued at $5,590,000 and were turned into finished products valued at $8,834,000. Numerous vessels have been wrecked in the vicinity of Gloucester. A mas sive rock called Norman's Woe was the in spiration for Longfellow's famous poem, 'The Wreck of the Hesperus.' The city was founded in 1671, principally by settlers from Gloucester, i England, from which it received its name; was incorporated as a town in 1642; and became a city in 1874. The city adopted the commission form of government in 1908. The waterworks are operated by the city. It has the oldest Uni versalist church in the United States, founded in 1770. Pop. 24,398. Consult Babson, J. J., 'His tor of Gloucester> (Gloucester 1860, supp. 1876) Pringle, J. R., 'History of the Town and City of Gloucester, 1623-1902' (ib., n.d.).
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