132 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



in 1785 the legislature passed the followiug preamble and resolution: 'Whereas this court, having 

 a due seuse of the high worth and importance of the whale fishery, are desirous of its preservation 

 nut only to this State, but to the United States in general ; therefore, Resolved, That there be paid, 

 out of the treasury of this Commonwealth, the following bounties upon whale oil of the different 

 qualities hereafter mentioned, viz : For every ton of white spermaceti oil, five pounds ; for every 

 ton of brown or yellow spermaceti eil, sixty shillings; for every ton of whale oil (so called), forty 

 shillings, that may be taken or caught by any vessel or vessels that are or may be owned and 

 manned wholly by the inhabitants of this Commonwealth, and landed within the same, from and 

 after the first day of January next, until the further order of the general court.' The selectmen of 

 the various towns were further empowered to appoint sworn inspectors to inspect all oil so landed, 

 and mark on the head of cadi cask so inspected the iuitital letters of his name, and a description 

 of the oil by the initials W. B., or Y. W. O., and deliver to the selectmen a sworn certificate 

 thereof. To obtain the bounty, a certificate from the selectmen must be presented to the governor 

 and council,* detailing the kind, quality, and amount of oil, and where landed. To this certifi- 

 cate the owners were to make oath or affirmation. 



" But, although the bounty seemed at first beneficial, the ultimate effect was not so good. The 

 business became unduly stimulated and an overproduction prevented to a great degree the desired 

 advance in profit. The demand was greatly limited. A long suspension in the use of oil had 

 accustomed the people in general to the use of tallow candles, and but little oil was required either 

 for towns or for light-houses." 



TRANSFER OF WHALING INTERESTS FROM NANTUCKET TO FRANCE AND ENGLAND. "In 

 the mean time, seeing no chance for any amelioration in their condition, unable to carry on a 

 business at a prospective loss, and accustomed from early childhood only to this pursuit, 

 hence unable and unwilling to adventure another, some of the prominent merchants of Nantucket 

 resolved to transfer their business to some place where the demand for their products and the 

 advantageous bounty offered would make it far more remunerative. Among these was William 

 Rotch. On the 4th of July, 1785, Mr. Rotch sailed from Nantucket in the ship Maria, bound for 

 London, arriving there on the 37th. -At as early a day as practicable he opened negotiations with 

 the chancellor of the exchequer (William Pitt) for a transfer to England of such of the whale fish- 

 ery at Nantucket as he could control.t The subject was laid before the privy council, and Mr. 

 Rotch waited four months for their summons. Finally, in deference to a request of his that some 

 one be appointed to close the matter, he was referred to Lord Hawksbury, a gentleman not very 

 favorably disposed toward America. Mr. Rotch gave him his estimate of the sum necessary to 

 induce a removal, viz, ' 100 sterling transportation for a family of five persons, and 100 settle- 



"*Macy, 129." 



"t Capt. Alexander Coffin was of those who looked upon the whale fishery as a peculiarly American pursuit, 

 aud who denounced any effort looking to a transfer of it to any foreign government. On tlie 8th of June, 1785, he 

 addressed from Nantucket a vigorous letter to the Hon. Samuel Adams. He wrote in severe terms agaiust the meas- 

 being adopted to remove to England, and says Mr. Rotch ' is now taking on board a double stock of materials, 

 such as cedar boards (commonly called boat-boards), of which they have none in England, a large quantity of coop- 

 er's stuff for casks, Are. Xeit her does it .stop liere ; the house of Rotch have been endeavoring to engage an acquaint- 

 am e <>r mine i m, t,, I'.ennudas to superintend the business at that place.' In a postscript he adds, 'Since writing the 

 :|l ><>\ e I 1 1 nve I ice 1 1 favored with the original scheme of establishment of the fishery at Bermudas, copies of which are 

 hero inclosed. One of the company is now at Kennebec, contracting with some persons for an annual supply of 

 IHH>IIX, stu\ c's, and other lumber necessary for the business.' This letter was laid before the senate of Massachusetts, 

 and tin 1 result \vas the passage of an act prohibiting the export to Bermudas of the articles enumerated, and the trans- 

 fer in this direction was prevented." 



