34 HISTORY AND METHODS OP THE FISHERIES. 



threaten to cut down their timber which is but little they have to Casks for oyle, altho' the Pet 

 purchased their landes of the Lord Sterling's deputy, above 30 yeares since, and have till now 

 under the Government and Patent of Mr. Winthrop, belonging to Conitycut Patent, which lyeth 

 far more convenient for ye Petitioners assistance in the aforesaid Trade.' They desire, therefore, 

 either to continue under the Connecticut government, or to be made a free corporation. This peti- 

 tion was referred to the ' Council on Foreign Plantations.' 



" This would make the commencement of this industry date back not far from the year 1650. 

 In December, 1652, the directors of Dutch West India Company write to Director General Peter 

 Stuyvesaut, of New York : ' In regard to the whale-fishery we understand that it might be taken 

 in hand during some part of the year. If this could be done with advantage, it would be a very 

 desirable matter, and make the trade there flourish and animate many people to try their good 

 luck in that branch.' In April (4th), 1656, the council of New York ' received the request of Hans 

 Jongh, soldier and tanner, asking for a ton of train-oil or some of the fat of the whale lately cap- 

 tured: " 



In 1669 Mr. Maverick writes from New York to Colonel Nichols, as follows : 



" On ye East end of Long Island there were twelve or thirteen whales taken before ye end of 

 March, and what since wee heare not ; here are dayly some seen in the very harbour, sometimes 

 within Nutt Island. Out of the Pinnace, the other week, they struck two, but lost both, the iron 

 broke in one, the other broke the warpe. The Governour hath encouraged some to follow this 

 designe. Two shollops made for itt, but as yett wee doe not heare of any they have gotten."* 



" In 1672," continues Starbuck, " the town of Southampton passed an order for the regulation of 

 whaling, which, in the latter part of the year, received the following confirmation from Governor 

 Lovelace : ' Whereas there was an ordinance made at a Towne-Meeting in South Hampton upon the 

 Second Day of May las relating to the Regulation of the Whale ffishing and Employment of the 

 Indyans therein, wherein particularly it is mentioned. That whosoever shall Hire an Indyan to 

 go a-Whaling, shall not give him for his Hire above one Trucking Cloath Coat, for each whale, 

 hee and his Company shall Kill, or halfe the Blubber, without the Whale Bone under a Penalty 

 therein exprest: Upon Considerac'on had thereupon, I have thought good to Allow of the said 

 Order, And do hereby Confirm the same, until some inconvenience therein shall bee made appeare, 

 And do also Order that the like Rule shall bee followed at East Hampton and other Places if 

 they shall finde it practicable amongst them. 



" ' Given under my haud in New Yorke, the 28th of Novemb'r, 1672.' 



" Upon the same day that the people of Southamption passed the foregoing order, Governor 

 Lovelace also issued and order citing that in consequence of great abuse to his Royal Highness in 

 the matter of drift- whales upon Long Island, he had thought fit to appoint Mr. Wm. Osborne and 

 Mr. John Smith, of Hempstead, to make strict inquiries of Indians and English in regard to the 

 matter.! 



" It was early found to be essential that all important contracts and agreements, especially 

 ' between the English and Indians, relating to the killing of whales should be entered upon the 

 town books, and signed by the parties in presence of the clerk and certified by him. Boat- 

 whaling was so generally practiced, and was considered of so much importance by the whole 

 community, that every man of sufficient ability in the town was obliged to take his turn in watch- 

 ing for whales from some elevated position on the beach, and to sound the alarm on one being 

 seen near the coast.'}: Ju April (2d), 1668, an agreement was entered on the records of Easthamp- 



' J >oc. ->t' Col. Hist. New York, III p. 183. t N. Y. Col., MSS., General Entries iv, p. 193, Francis Lovelace. 



t HONVKI.L : Hint.. .Southampton. 



