The inscription is taken from Psalm 107, verse 23, line 24, which reads as follows:

"They that go down to the sea in ships,
That do business in great waters;
These see the works of the Lord,
And his wonders in the deep."

The sculptor was Leonard Craske and the dedication was August 23, 1925. The bronze monument consists of a nearly square base of sea green granite, carried from the famous "Blood Ledge" in the Bay View section of Gloucester. The stone is cut with a rough finish to typify the rugged character of the figure, with a single panel on the front holding the bronze letters of inscription, "They that go down to the sea in ships". 1623 - 1923.

The pose chosen is that of a helmsman bringing his craft up as close hauled to the wind as possible to clear some dangerous rocks, his eyes being fixed on the sails to detect the first indication that they are beginning to spill the wind, every muscle being strained to hold the wheel firmly until the peril is passed.

This is a memorial to all of the Gloucester fishermen who in years since Gloucester was settled in 1623 have lost their lives while fishing. It faces the outer harbor in Gloucester, Massachusetts.