CHAPTER IV 

 FROM DOLDRUMS TO STU'N'S'LS 



THE Revolutionary War brought independence to the 

 colonies, but disaster to the whaling industry. The 

 watchfulness of the British naval vessels necessi- 

 tated a cessation of whaling activities which was 

 well-nigh complete. All continental whaling ports were 

 forced to forego any serious attempts to capture oil and bone 

 throughout the duration of the war j and their vessels rotted at 

 the wharves or were converted into privateers. 



Nantucket alone, in spite of crushing losses and an over- 

 whelming mortality rate, kept her harpoons free from rust. 

 Although the odds were heavily weighted against success, 

 whaler after whaler put out from port in brave hopes of 

 finding whales and of evading the British. In truth, there 

 was nothing else to do. For whaling had become the domi- 

 nant means of livelihood for the entire island, and under the 

 stress of a wartime blockade no adequate substitute could be 

 devised. An attempted continuance of whaling seemed the 

 only alternative to passive starvation. 



Both the exposed and indefensible position of the island, 

 and the Quaker beliefs of its inhabitants, prompted Nan- 

 tucket to maintain a position of neutrality rather than to cast 

 her lot on the side of the colonies. Save for some of her 

 warm-blooded sons who followed their personal inclinations 

 by serving on American privateers, Nantucket was careful, 

 too, in observing her profession of neutrality. But neither 

 British nor Americans would recognize or respect such a 

 status. Year after year the island's vessels were captured or 

 sunk by the British and interfered with by the Americans. 



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