1733.] CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY. 71 



these people, the introduction of any new system was 

 ever deemed an innovation, wliilc the mere circum- 

 stance of any plan or contri\ ancc being out of the an- 

 cient practice or form, was generally of itself suffi- 

 cient to prevent its adoption. In a ship, however, 

 fitted out by INlessrs Elias Bird and Company, about 

 the year 1733, the prejudices of the harpooners* 

 were so far overcome, that the harpoon-gun was the 

 means of taking two of the tish out of three, which 

 constituted the vessel's cargo f , 



The South Sea Company having persevered in 

 the whale-fishery with indifferent or bad success for 

 eight successive years, whereby they sunk a vast 

 sum of money, being hopeless of redeeming their 

 losses, abandoned the whale-fishery after the season 

 of 1732. A short time before this, they had soli- 

 cited Government for a bounty to assist them in 

 the speculation, and enable them to continue it. 

 This request was subsequently complied with, but 



* As this occiured eight or nine years after the revival 

 of the whale-fishery by the South Sea Company, it is very 

 possible, that Bird's ship was furnished with some English har- 

 pooners, who had been bred in the service of the company. 

 These men were not likely to be so strongly prejudiced 

 against new inventions as the Dutch were ; consequently, the 

 harpoon-gun would, in their hands, meet a fair trial, and its 

 importance be duly appreciated. 



t Anderson, a. d. 1731- 



