And fish they did. Up until the Civil War, nearly every male of reasonable age had some connection with the industry. In the early years, these long voyages would take the ship and crew to the Outer Banks, then to various ports throughout the world for drying the catch and then selling it. Much of the goods, historian Edward Stone noted, went to Catholic countries like Spain and Portugal. Folowing the Revolution, the ships increased in size and technology changed, allowing fish to be salted in the hold, then brought home to beverly to be cured. Virtually every open space near the coast was grabbed up for "fish flakes"-open racks for drying the catch in the sun. The Crowell flake yard stood until 1903 near the corner of Lothrop and Water Streets, but most fell by the wayside with the growth of the community following the Civil War. Hugh flake yards covering the territory between Cabot and Lothrop Streets were bought out by Israel Lefavour for real estate development in 1867. the Historic District, however, was never actually called "Fish Flake Hill" until recent times.

When the industry peaked, probably between 1840 and 1850, there were seventy to eighty fishing vessels sailing from town, each employing a crew of between six to nine men. Most went out on two "fares" a year, between the first voyage in March or April, returning near the Forth of July, then putting out to sea again through the early winter storm period at the end of Nevember-at sea for six to eight months. The reward at the end of each trip was "washing out day" when cargo was unloaded and the sailors feted with a great dinner. Early winter could be occupied hauling up ships, overseeing repairs, and mending equipment, but before long, the men picked up part-time work, one reason why shoemaking-based on its piecework rates-became the second major industry in Beverly.

In 1860, just prior to the Civil War, fifty-four vessels sailed from Beverly to fish, with a tonnage of 4,072, a valuation of $166,800, carrying 472 men (out of approximately 2000 men in town), using 5366 bushels of salt and 1172 bushels of bait. As late as 1877, twenty-two craft, employing about 300 men, were still active in fishing. There remains hints of this important industry along today's waterfront, only suggesting the days when Beverly men sailed the seas in search of fish.