270 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



twenty-three ships and barks, and one brig in 1838. Allowing 165 feet from after end of spanker 

 boom to end of fly-jib boom, fifty ships in line would be over li miles in length ; 7 boats to a ship, 

 would be 350 boats ; 2,500 barrels cask each, 125,000 barrels. 



" From 1835 to 1850, Fairhaven was a busy, thriving town. Persons not acquainted with the 

 place at that time can have very little idea of the number of people employed in the ship yards, 

 shops on the wharves, and about the village. Over one hundred mechanics and laborers were from 

 their labor at noontime from Union wharf, and probably a larger number were employed on other 

 wharves and in the village. In 1841 sixteen ships and three barks were fitted. In 1S45 fourteen 

 whalers arrived, with 15,525 barrels sperm oil, 11,625 barrels whale oil, and 100,300 pounds bone. 

 The price of. speiiu oil in 1845 was 85 cents ; whale oil 31 cents per gallon, and whalebone 33 cents 

 per pound; value of sperm oil, $415,681.87 ; whale oil, $113,518.12; whalebone, $33,099 ; value of 

 importations in 1845, $562,298.99. 



''There have been some very good voyages both in sperm and whale oil. The most costly 

 ship of the fleet was the ship South Seaman, costing $65,000 ; several others costing about $50,000 

 each. The last two owned in Fairhaveu were ship General Scott and schooner Ellen Rodman. The 

 ship Herald made twenty-five voyages, probably the largest number of any ship from this port, 

 averaging 1,200 barrels each ; total, 30,000 barrels. Ship Amazon made seventeen voyages, obtain- 

 ing 5,014 barrels sperm oil and 28,980 barrels whale oil ; total, 33,994 barrels. Ship William Wirt's 

 largest cargo of sperm oil was 2,900 barrels. Ship South Seaman sent home 70 barrels sperm, 

 3,560 barrels whale oil, and 21,027 pounds bone. Lost on French Frigate Shoal March 13, 1859. 



"In 1765 sloops Industry and Dove were engaged in the whaling business. In 1767 sloops 

 Myriad, Sea Flower, Rover, and Supply were added. 



"Before the war of 1812 ships Juno, President, Columbia, Herald (Samuel Borden, agent), 

 Exchange (John Aldeu, agent), schooner Swan (John Aldeu, agent), were included in the whaling 

 fleet of Fairhaveu. When peace was declared in 1815 only one ship and one schooner fitted for 

 whaling ship Herald, agent Samuel Borden; schooner Liberty, agent John Aldeu. * * * 

 Since 1815 one hundred and eight vessels hailing from Fairhaveu have engaged in the whaliug 

 industry, classified as follows: eighty-eight ships and barks, eight brigs, and twelve schooners." 



87. NEW BEDFORD TO WESTPORT. 



NEW BEDFORD. New Bedford is built on high ground, and the cross streets, running east 

 and west, have an easy slope, affording a fine view of the Acushnet River and the harbor with its 

 forest of masts of the whaling vessels. Fairhaven on the east and Buzzard's Bay in the distance 

 on the south, make the view complete. New Bedford is the most important city on Buzzard's 

 Bay, and in proportion to its population of 26,845, it is said to be the richest city in the United 

 States. In 1877 its valuation in real estate was $12,609,200, and in personal property $10,854,900, 

 or a total of $23,464,100. 



The home fisheries have never been prosecuted with very great interest, although both scale 

 and shell fish are in great abundance and close at hand. Considerable attention is now paid to 

 supplying New York, Philadelphia, and cities nearer home with fresh fish, clams, quahaugs, and 

 scallops. A small amount of fish is also sent to Boston. The vessels engaged in fishing are of 

 small size, sloop or schooner rigged. They fish in Buzzard's Bay and the Acushuet River near 

 home, where a great variety, similar to that spoken of in the report for Fairhaven, is taken. 

 Scaled fish are caught with hand-lines, eels in box-traps, and scallops with dredges. 



The menhaden fishery has been prosecuted from here for a number of years and has brought 



