506 REMARKS ON THK SIZE OF WIIALE-SHIPS. [aPP. K" II. 



No. II. 

 1. Some remarks on the most advantageous dimensions 



OF A WIIALE-SHTP. 



It has been remarked (page 189 of tliis volume), that per- 

 haps a roomy ship of 330 or 340 tons burden, possesses more 

 advantiiges, in the whale-fishing, Avith fewer disadvantages, 

 than a vessel of similar build of any other capacity. It may 

 be useful to examine the truth of this proposition, 



In the most favourable and prosperous cases, a ship of 

 330 tons burden may receive on board about 150 tons of 

 blubber at once ; a ship of 250 tons scarcely 100. Hence, 

 being soon crowded with blubber, the smaller sliip is not ca- 

 pable of deriving the same advantage from any extraordinary 

 " run of fish" as the larger ; the fishing is necessarily suspen- 

 ded, until the blubber obtained is packed in casks, an ope- 

 ration requiring so much time, that a favourable opportunity, 

 such as a run of fish, rarely continues until it is completed, 

 nor often recurs in one season. But as the larger vessel 

 might, on such an occasion, Iiave obtained 50 tons of blubber 

 more than the smaller, before it would be necessary to " make 

 off," the advantage in the fishery would, of course, be highly 

 in her favour. Besides, with the most successful issue, the 

 cargo of a small ship must necessarily be such, that her pro- 

 fits, under all circumstances, must be comparatively mode- 

 rate. 



Though the cargoes of a large and small ship, when filled, 

 may be in proportion to tlieir tonnage, yet neither thv? profits 

 nor advances are in the same proportion. For since a ship 

 of 330 tons may, if required, be navigated with the same 

 crew, and fitted for the fishery at the same expence of stores 

 as one of 250 tons ; the principal point in which the expen- 

 ces of the larger will exceed those of the smaller, will be in 

 the matter of first cost. Now, the difference in the first cost 



