201 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF, &C 



may be considered to be on the increase ; this I account 

 for, from the circumstance of what few whales are cap- 

 tured being solely confined to these ports, instead of 

 being diffused among those already mentioned. 



The most profitable period for the whale-fishery was 

 during the period of the bounty, which it is calculated 

 cost the nation from 1750 to 1824, upwards of two 

 millions and a half, and it is to the eternal disgrace of 

 those in power, who took it off, by so doing thereby pre- 

 venting the exercise of that spirit of enterprise and ad- 

 venture so characteristic of British merchants and sea- 

 men. And many of the sums now improperly spent and 

 conferred upon idlers, might with greater benefit to the 

 nation be thus appropriated, and the time is not far 

 distant, when too late, this will be discovered, if to 

 many reflecting minds it is not already. The bounty 

 stimulated the merchant to equip his vessel : if she 

 was unsuccessful in the voyage, his loss was lessened, 

 whereas now the whole burden falls upon his shoulders ; 

 consequently, the oil rose in price, and scientific men 

 having produced coal-gas at a cheaper rate, and at the 

 same time producing a more brilliant light than could 

 be afforded by oil, it has become among tradesmen an 

 almost universal substitute. These combined circum- 

 stances have produced a less demand for oil, merchants 

 employ their vessels for other purposes, and the conse- 

 quences will be, that the whales will have a better chance 

 to multiply, and the trade will be thrown into the hands 

 of the enterprising Americans, who richly deserve it. 



