Originally Published October 1, 2011
John Nagle Co. was founded in 1887, by John J. Nagle, an innovative Gloucester fisherman, who saw a need to obtain a fair price for the fishermen he worked with and, at the same time, deliver the highest quality fish to consumers. In the early years, the company grew as an auction house, selling fish from all the Canadian Maritime Provinces to Cape Cod, R.I., and into the Mid-Atlantic.
During the 1920s, the founder turned over the reins to his son, John Jr., who advanced the international development of sword-fishing techniques with Taiyo Fisheries. Mackerel business also soared under his watch as food wholesalers strove to feed the country during World War II.
In 1944, John’s two oldest sons, John and Vincent, who had been groomed to take over the family business, were killed in the war.