THE WHALE FISHERY. 29 



providence doe fall iiito any pte of this Jurisdiction. This Court doth therfore order for the pre- 

 vention of any discontent or controversy for tlir future and for a iinall Issue and settlement soe 

 farr as in the Court lyeth about the saint- ; that for all such whales as by Gods providence shalbee 

 cast on shore on any pte of this gou r nieiit or shalbee by any cut vp att sea, and brought on shore in 

 the Goirment ; there shalbee for every such Uish one full hogshead of Marchantable oyle payed 

 into the Count rev delivered alt Boston by such to\vnes or psons as are Interested in the lauds where 

 they fall or shall soe cutt vp any tlish att sea; and iucaso that any Ih'sh bee soe considerably torne 

 or wasted that a full quarter pte bee gone; the.u to jiay but halfe a hogshead and for such Incon- 

 siderable ]iet-ce.s of I'tish as are lesse then halfe they shall pay nothing; and for the resedew of such 

 tlish or the produce of them as remaines the Countu-yes pte being discharged. It shalbee freely 

 att the dispose of such Townrs when- it falls or for the Uenifef t of such as Cutt them Vp; if taken 

 on drift without such bounds as have bine formerly sett; the same being still continewed."* 



On the 4th of November, 1690, it was 



"Ordered, that tor the prevention of contests and suits by whale killers: 



"1. This Court cloth order, that all whales killed or wounded by any man & left at sea, s d 

 ,vha!e killers that killed or wounded s' 1 whale shall presently repaire to some prudent person 

 whome the Court shall appoint, and there give in the wounds of s b whale, the time & place 

 when & where killed or wounded; and s' 1 person so appointed shall presently comitt it to record, 

 and his record shall be allowed good testimony in law. 



" 2. That all whales brought or cast ou shore shall be viewed by the persons so appointed, or 

 his deputy, before they are cut or any way defaced after come or brought on shore, and s d viewer 

 shall take a particular record of the wounds of s d whale, & time & place where & when brought 

 on shore ; & his record shall be good testimony in law, and s d viewer shall take care for securing 

 s d fish for the owner. 



" 3. That whatever person or persons shall cut up or deface any whale fish, by cutting, stab- 

 bing, or launcing, after come on shore or at sea, if a drift, unless of necessity to towe it to shore, 

 before it hath beeu viewed by the person appointed thereto, and a record taken by him, shall lose 

 their right to s d fish, & pay a fine of ten pounds to the county. And s d viewers shall seize s d 

 fish for the owners use, on the effects thereof, and s d viewer shall have power to make a deputy or 

 deputies under his hand, and to have six shillings for [each] whale so viewed & recorded of the 

 owners thereof. 



" 4. That whosoever find, takes, or cuts up any drift whale found on the stream, a mile from 

 the shore, not appearing to be killed by any man, shall be thet first sieze and secure them, paying 

 an hogshea'd of oyle to y county for every such whale." 



MARTHA'S VINEYARD. 



The inhabitants of this island were early engaged in boat whaling. According to Starbuck 

 the earliest mention of whales at this place occurs in November, 1652, when Thomas Daggett and 

 William Weeks were appointed "whale cutters for this year." In the following April it was 

 " Ordered by the town that the whale is to be cut out freely, four men at one time, and four at 

 another, and so every whale, beginning at the east end of the town." In 1690 Mr. Sarson and 

 William Vinson were appointed by "the proprietors of the whale" to oversee the cutting and 

 sharing of all whales cast on shore within the bounds of Edgartowu, "they to have as much for 

 their care as one cutter." 



* Ply. Col. Bee., zi, p. 134. ilbid., vi, p. 252. 



