The Fisherman's Kit

he fisherman's kit contained personal belongings for the fishing expedition.

The contents of kits belonging to fishermen who died at sea or on the coast of North America show that fishermen had little material wealth, often only clothing. Most of them did not have any fishing gear.

Jacques Fretel, a Breton member of a shallop crew who died at the hospital in Louisbourg in 1733, left behind the following: a chest of poor quality containing eight shirts, four vests, four pairs of pants, four jackets, two caps, a piece of dimity, a pair of shoes, one and a half pounds of tobacco, a powder horn and an old rifle. The value of his belongings was 36 livres. One of his shipmates owed him 31 livres and 6 deniers, and Fretel owed 6 livres to the woman who washed his clothes.