This fonds consists of 2 papers written by Cochrane, "History of the St. Martins, New Brunswick built ships" is a 256-page manuscript which includes details of the history of St. Martins area, lists of the master mariners and captains of coasters from St. Martins and statistics on the tonnage of St. Martins built ships. There are records of many of the local vessels giving: names, types of vessel, tonnage, dates built and names of owners. There are also some information on captains, crew, passengers, incidents or accidents, mutinies, damage due to storms, shipwrecks, vessel dimensions, cargos and sailing routes, which included the West Indies, the U.K., Europe and Australia.

The other paper, "The whale fishing industry of Saint John, N.B.", is about the history of the whale fishing industry in Saint John from 1830 to 1850. Material includes a list of the St. John Mechanics Whale Fishing Company officers and stockholders, 1837. There are details of the dividends paid in 1841 and a list of ships owned by the company. This manuscript provides information about Charles Stewart, a pioneer in the whale fishery in Saint John, and the commander of the last whaling ship which sailed from the city in 1848 and about James Millidge who was also engaged in this industry. Other subjects include uses for the whale oil and whale bone, and amounts of whale oil carried aboard the ships.