APP. N° II.] REMARKS ON THE SIZE OF WHALE-SHIPS. 507 



of two new ships of 250 and 330 tons will be about 1600/.; 

 the extra interest of capital, insurance, and wear and teai*, on 

 which may be stated at 1501. per annum. Therefore reckon- 

 ing the average value of oil to the whale-fishers at 27^. per 

 ton, (7/. being deducted for paying the premiums of the mas- 

 ter and seamen on the oil, with expences of extracting it, &c.) 

 the larger ship, to return the same profits to the owners as 

 the smaller, will requu*e a cargo of 5 1 tons of oil each voyage 

 more than that of the smaller ; but every ton of oil she pro- 

 cures above that quantity in excess, will be equal to 27/. ad- 

 vantage to the owners. Supposing, then, the two ships to get 

 full cargoes, the larger will carry about 340 tons, and the 

 smaller about 160, the difference of which is 80 tons ; this, 

 reckoned at 27/. per ton, expences in premiums and manu- 

 factm-e being deducted, amounts to 2160/., the additional 

 profit in favour of the larger vessel. This advantage, how- 

 ever, can only be casual ; yet it is so considerable, that when 

 connected with the first mentioned advantage of profiting to 

 a greater extent on meeting with a " heavy run of fish,'" to- 

 gether with the superior comfort and convenience afforded in 

 large vessels, it becomes a benefit of much greater moment 

 than the excess of expences with which it is obtained ; conse- 

 quently these considerations appear to warrant the equipment 

 of vessels of 330 or 340 tons, hi preference to any of smaller 

 dimensions, on the ground of their superiority in point of 

 adaptation, and advantage to the proprietors. 



As a roomy vessel of 330 or 340 tons wiU contain as lai'ge 

 a cargo as can generally be obtained, even in the most favour- 

 able season, it is probable that a much further increase of ton- 

 nage would be almost useless ; and if so, it must be obtained 

 at a real expence and disadvantage. How far, however, a 

 moderate increase or diminution of tonnage might be made, 

 without becoming unprofitable, must be a matter of opinion 

 and uncertainty. 



