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Advocate Archives
In this week’s look back into the Advocate archives we visit 1918 when the Pamet Harbor was just about to be improved; 1939 as hunters prepared for the season to open; and finally to 1951 where a woman is acquitted of trying to arrange an abortion and a man is cleared on charges that he operated a taxi without a license.
Oct. 24, 1918
Pamet Harbor, Truro, To Be Improved
Thanks to the persistent efforts of Representative Jerome S. Smith, the people of Truro and the fishermen of all the Cape Cod Bay coast have occasion for rejoicing at the thought of the boon which is about to be bestowed upon them in the reclamation of Pamet Harbor. For a long time Representative Smith has advocated the restoration of the harbor named; has labored for that end, and now has the satisfaction of knowing he did not labor in vain, because the Waterways Commission has said “Amen!” and the Governor and his council at last have sanctioned the project. The contract for the work has been awarded and operations looking to the construction of a snug and fairly capacious harbor are to be commenced, we hear, within the coming year.
To most of the present residents of Truro and Provincetown, the statement that Pamet Harbor was once the haven for a big fleet of large vessels must appear a fairy tale, but the sand-choked basin comprising the “harbor” of the present is utterly unlike the natural refuge which sheltered a sizable fleet in former days. Pamet Harbor was the scene of great fishing activities for many years. Jonathan Paine was the owner of the first wharf built there in 1754. In 1830 the Union wharf was built on the south side of Pamet River. Lower wharf was subsequently built into the harbor at the mouth of the river and in 1837 a stock company built the North wharf. In the last named year these wharves were at the height of their usefulness, crowded with fishing vessels, of which 50 have been seen moored to the wharves during a single season.
All told, the town had 63 vessels in the cod and mackerel fisheries.
Oct. 19, 1939
Huntsmen Prepare For Open Season
Today Provincetown hunters are assembling their gear, oiling their guns and overhauling their equipment in readiness for the opening of the season tomorrow morning. And from all indications it should be a good season with plenty of wild fowl and upland game seen in this vicinity.
Director of the State Division of Fisheries and Game, James E. Agnew, has some sane warnings for hunters on the eve of the opening of the season. He says:
“As the season approaches and the opening day is about here, every hunter is keen to enter the woods and enjoy his favorite sport of hunting upland game. Anxiously he awaits the first shot at a pheasant or quail in flight and it may be expected that the average hunter will have these realized as the Division of Fisheries and Game has liberated approximately 23,000 pheasants and 10,000 quail in the various covers throughout the state.
“However, in pursuing this pleasure, a few fundamental and sane principles must be kept in mind by every sportsmen. Each gunner should adhere strictly to all laws, as the Division’s Conservation Officers have been instructed to vigorously enforce them ... He should have in his possession a hunting license ... He should be most certain of his target before pulling the trigger ... He must be extremely careful to avoid fires while in the woods. If a fire is discovered, fight it and if necessary notify the nearest town forest warden.”
Oct. 18, 1951
Jury Acquits Two Cape Enders
On Monday Superior Court jury sitting in Barnstable acquitted Edgar Mandell of 22 Brewster St., Provincetown, of violating the provisions of G. L. 159A sec. 1. Specifically he was charged with transporting persons for hire on Commercial St. without first obtaining a taxi license.
Provincetown patrolman Harold McFarlane admitted on the stand that he had called Mr. Mandell up and secured his services as a bass fishing guide. Mr. Mandell testified that he made no charge for transportation and that Patrolman MacFarlane gave him the money on the way to the beach and then arrested him without accepting his services as a guide.
Mrs. Ernest Souza of Cottage St., Provincetown, was freed by the grand jury of a charge that she had attempted to procure an abortion on a local girl.
Both defendants were represented by S. Osborn Ball.
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Oct 18th, 2007