Charleston’s "Mosquito Fleet" was a resilient group of African-American fishermen who, for nearly two centuries, braved the elements to deliver fresh fish and seafood to city residents each morning. The sight of these fishermen sailing into the harbor with their daily catch became one of Charleston's most iconic visuals during the 19th and early 20th centuries. According to folklore, the fleet received its nickname from the daughter of Gen. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a Revolutionary hero and delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, who noted that the boats resembled a swarm of mosquitoes approaching from the horizon.
Before the advent of refrigeration, Charlestonians relied heavily on the Mosquito Fleet for a significant portion of their daily diet. The economic impact of these fishermen was substantial, earning them high regard within the community. In support of their endeavors, Gen. Pinckney even donated waterfront property at the east end of Market Street for their boats to dock. The work of the Fleet was both demanding and perilous, embodying a strong work ethic and resilience in the face of adversity. In the first half of the 19th century, the fleet consisted primarily of enslaved fishermen, as fishing boats were one of the few assets allowed under South Carolina law. Following emancipation, freedmen continued fishing, now earning wages to support their families through the sale of their catch. Eager street vendors and shopkeepers gathered along the waterfront, anticipating fresh fish such as porgy, sea bass, whiting, trout, croaker, bluefish, snapper, grunt, shark, and jackfish.
The wooden boats of the Mosquito Fleet were crafted from locally sourced materials like cypress, pine, and oak. Their designs varied from canoes to dinghies and flat-bottomed bateaus, equipped with oars for calm days and homemade sails, often made from colorful quilting or leftover scraps from women's sewing projects. Fishermen handcrafted their nets and tackle, using long lines with a dozen hooks tied to each. Each boat typically accommodated two to seven men, along with a captain, who charged about 15 cents per day for a seat on his vessel.
Lowcountry Digital Library, College of Charleston
Safety in numbers was crucial for these fishermen as they ventured into treacherous waters. The Mosquito Fleet often traveled 15 to 20 miles offshore, navigating solely by memory and instinct rather than relying on navigational aids, maps, or compasses. Over the years, the fleet endured significant challenges, including hurricanes in 1893, 1911, and 1916. A major hurricane in 1940 further impacted their operations as large, refrigerated commercial vessels began to overshadow traditional fishing practices. Hurricane Gracie in 1959 severely damaged the dock and many boats, which often went uninsured. Through the 1970s, the fleet operated on a much smaller scale, and by the 1980s, only a few seasoned fishermen remained in the vocation they cherished. Some of the elderly fishermen resorted to fishing off the dock or assisting with net making and repairs for others.
The legacy of the Mosquito Fleet came to a tragic end with Hurricane Hugo in 1989, which obliterated the dock donated by Gen. Pinckney two centuries earlier. Remnants of the last boats were discovered as far away as the intersection of Calhoun and King streets. Today, the dock’s site is part of the Union Pier redevelopment project, recently sold by the State Ports Authority to local businessman Ben Navarro.
Photo of a destroyed boat, building
credit: News and Courier
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