440 



HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



The number of Antarctic sealing vessels belonging to each porl from 1840 to 1881 Continued. 



6. LIST OF ANTARCTIC SEALING VOYAGES FROM 1783 TO 1880. 



VOYAGES FROM 1783 TO 1839. 



1783 to 1790. 



Prior to the Revolutionary war it is probable that no fur-seal voyages were made from the 

 United States. Shortly after the war the ship States sailed from Boston for the Falkland Islands 

 and secured a cargo of hair-seal skins and sea-elephant oil. This vessel brought home a few 

 thousand fur-seal skins as an experiment. She was probably the first vessel regularly fitted from 

 this country for sealing. Whaling vessels occasionally brought home a small quantity of sea- 

 elephant oil, obtained while on their regular whaling voyages. In the year 1786 a few vessels were 

 sent out from Hudson, N. Y., on whaling and sealing voyages. 



1790. 



From Macy's History of Nantucket we learn the following : " During several years previous 

 to 1790 many profitable sealing voyages were made from England and other places. This induced 

 the people of Nantucket to turn their attention to that business, with a view to prosecute it if it 



