1771.] CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY. 7(^ 



the British whale-fi.sliermen in England, the snm of 

 475,031/. 4s. Id., and in Scotland, 138,230/. 5,y. lOd. 

 During this period, tlie number of English ships 

 (including repeated voyages,) engaged in the trade, 

 amounted to 786 sail, and their burthen to 247,218 

 tons, and, at the same time, the number of Scotch 

 ships was 229, and their tonnage 70,523. 



This season (1771) 121 Dutcli ships procured 

 14,320 barrels of oil, the produce of 500 whales. 

 Three of these ships were lost after having captured 

 fifteen whales. 



The consumption of v\halebonc in the stiff stays 

 used by the ladies, was at this period very great ; in 

 consequence of which, notwithstanding tlie increas- 

 ed importation from Greenland, Davis' Straits and 

 the St Lawrence, tliis article still maintained a 

 high price. 



The method of shooting harpoons at the whale, 

 from a sort of swivel-gun, was, in the year 1772, 

 reintroduced. Indeed this instrument had been so 

 long laid aside, that the present was considered as 

 a new discovery, and probably was the sole invention 

 of the manufacturer. The Society of Arts, af- 

 ter having witnessed two experiments v.ith the 

 harpoon-gun, which fully satisfied them of its ef- 

 ficacy ; with a view to testify their approbation 

 of the instrument, and to encourage tlie use of iL 

 presented the inventor witli a premium of twenty 



