522 A. E. Verritt — The Bermuda Islands. 



who would carry on the fishery one-third of the profits. This 

 resulted in the manufacture of considerable oil, but it also gave rise 

 to great dissatisfaction on the part of the Company, who did not 

 think that they received their share. At this period Xorwood stated 

 that they sometimes took two or three whales in a day. 



In 1671 the whaling company was reorganized, but owing to dis- 

 sensions, the taking of whales was prohibited in 1679. Complaints 

 were frequently made of the illegal taking of whales, but probably 

 no great numbers were ever taken in that way, in early times, for 

 the natives lacked the means of boiling the blubber, except at the 

 established " whale-houses." 



The total amount of oil shipped in the 17th century is very uncer- 

 tain, for the amount is only mentioned incidentally in recording the 

 cargoes of certain ships. Probably the business was never very 

 extensive, nor very profitable for the investors. 



The following entries, though doubtless very incomplete, give some 

 idea of the amount of oil shipped : 



The "Elias" of London, August, 1664, carried away 4-1 hogsheads, 

 or 9 tuns of whale-oil. 



A ship (Hercules?), August, 1666, took away 117 hogsheads, or 29 

 tuns of oil. 



A vessel not named, August, 1667, carried away 4H tuns of whale- 

 oil. 



The "Elizabeth and Marie," June, 1668, took 13| tuns of oil. 



After 1700 more or less whaling was carried on, generally in a 

 local way, down to quite recent years, the number of whales con- 

 stantly decreasing. Three whale-houses formerly existed on St. 

 David's Island; one on Smith's Island; one on Paget Island; one at 

 Whale Bay; one at Tucker's Town. 



Until 1782, licenses were issued by the Governor to those who 

 engaged in the fishery, for which a considerable fee was paid. 



In 1782, under Governor Brown, the whale fishery was made free 

 to all. 



Several vessels were built and fitted out for the foreign whale 

 fishery about 1784, by Jennings, Tucker & Co. This business was 

 carried on until interrupted by the war with France in 1793. 



For the past thirty or forty years very few whales have been 

 taken, though boats are kept in readiness. 



Sperm Whales are occasionally seen near the islands, but are usually 

 very shy and few are taken. A small one, about 30 feet long, was 

 captured in April, L901. (See Part III, ch. 30.) 



