1941Dory fishing was replaced by draggers.Economy and Industry, Maritime & Fishing Industry

After World War I, the introduction of the diesel engine made otter trawling feasible for the Gloucester fleet’s small wooden draggers. By 1930, the mackerel and swordfishing fleets were also being fitted with otter trawls to catch groundfish during the winter off-season. When the US entered WWII in 1941, the Navy purchased Gloucester draggers for coastal defense. To replace them, fishermen ordered new vessels and converted dory trawlers to draggers.