TIN: \\IIAI.K risiiEi;v. 103 



with an ever-increasing number of mariners ;uul vessels, taking Hie coil and mackerel, and some 

 times pursuing the whale into the icy labyrinths of '.he northern seas; yet loving home, and 

 dearly attached to their modest freeholds.' 



"Of this period Hiite.hinson says : * 'The increase of the consumption of oil by lamps as well 

 as by divers manufactures in Kurope has been no small encouragement to our whale-fishery. The 

 flourishing state of the island of Xantucket must be attributed to it. The cod and whale fishery, 

 being the principal source of our returns to Great Britain, are therefore worthy not only of 

 provincial but national attention.' 



"A continual succession of foreign wars, in which the hardy fishermen and farmers of New 

 England were constantly called to the aid of England, coupled with a continual succession of in- 

 tolerant measures adopted by the mother country toward the plantations, which, in common with 

 the colonists at large, they felt impelled to resist, was gradually preparing America for the event- 

 ful struggle which was to end in its independence. By the experience of the wars they learned 

 their strength; through the pressure of the tyrannical acts they learned their rights." 



EMBARGO OF 1757. "Pending the expedition for the reduction of Nova Scotia in 1755 an 

 embargo was laid upon the Bank fishermen, though the risk of capture was so great that it of 

 itself must have quite effectively embargoed many of them. t 



In 1757 the embargo being still continued upon the fishery in these waters a petition 

 was presented to the general court of Massachusetts from the people of Martha's Vineyard and 

 Xantucket. representing that the memorialists 'being Informed that your Honours think it not 

 advisable to Permit the fishermen to Sail on their Voyages until the time limited by the Embargo 

 is Expired by lieasou that their fishing banks where they Usually proceed on said Voyages lyes 

 Eastward not far from Cape bretou which may be a means of their falling into the hands of the freuch 

 which may be of bad Consequence to the Common Cause. Your Memorialists would Humbly observe 

 to Your Honours that that is not the Case with the whalemen their procedure on their Voyages is 

 Westward of the Cape of Virginia, and southward of that until the mouth of June from which Your 

 Memorialists are of the mind their is nothing like the Danger of their falling into the hands of the 

 <'ape bretou Privateers as would be If they went Eastward. Your Memorialists would further 

 Observe that the whalemen have almost double the Number of hands that the fishermen Carry 

 which makes Their Charge almost, Double to that of fishermen and ye first part of the Whale 

 ,-eason is Always Esteemed the Principal time for their making their Voyages which If they lose 

 the greatest part of the People will have nothing to Purchase the Necessaries of life withal they 

 h.ivcing no other way which must make them in miserable Situation. Your memorialists would 

 therefore beg that y r Honours would take Our Miserable Situation under Consideration and grant 

 our Whalemen liberty lo Proceed on Our Voyages from this time If it be Consistent with your 

 (ireat wisdom as in duty bound shall every prayj 



" 'JOHN NORTON (for Martha's Vineyard) 

 u 'ABISHAI FOLGER (for Nantucket)' 



"In compliance with the foregoing petition the council passed this resolution (April 8, 1758): 

 Inasmuch as the Inhabitants of Xantucket most of whom are Quakers are by Law exempted 

 from Impresses for military Sen ice. And their Livelihood intirely depends on the Whale fishery 



"Hist, of Massachusetts, ii. p. .1IH'." 



"t A duty was laid upon the eoloni.sts m l?:,i; to support a, frigate on the Banks to defend the fislu 

 " t Mass. Col. MSS., M. -nil inn- yi, p. :',71. From this pet it ion p]ie:<r that, having an unfavorable season 



at the soitthwatd, the, whalemen \\ otild stand lor Hi t.o till there. If, however, a \ easel got home early 



from the nut-Hi, t ln-\ frequent ly went mi another voyage 10 the so n Hi and west \\ aril in I lie same year.'' 



