The book describes the time as one fine Summer day in 1890. It mentions one of my neighbors of the time, Stu Phelps,book was published in 1975, as a halibut high-liner even then. Times have changed.
I remember the outer Cape being poorer than the Appalachia that I was being raised in at the time. But the Cape had fewer folks on the dole and more working, sometimes more than one job. That was the early 60s. There seemed to be hustle and bustle going on and good food on the table, much of which came from the earth and sea.
If you ever get a chance at this book, grab it. Mr. Mitcham was chef at Pepe's and a tutor to Anthony Bourdain. The man knew seafood.
As an aside, there's still a fellow who longlines from a dory in P-town Harbor. You'll see him off Day's Cottages chasing fluke.