532 ACCOL'NT OF THE S. SEA WHALE-nSHERY. [aPP. N° VIII. 



14. llt)w many ships, English and foreign, do you sup- 

 pose ai'c at present (January 1818) in the trade ? 



An. Inckiding Americans, at least 200 sail of ships. 



15. Has any increase lately taken place in the number of 

 shipping employed in the southern fishery ? 



An. The number is one-half more now than during the 

 wai*. 



16. What do you suppose was the magnitude of the largest 

 spenn-whale you ever saw taken .? 



An. Extreme length 90 feet, girth about 30 feet (suppos- 

 ed), made 12 tons of oil, including 5 tons of head matter. 



17. What might be the size of the largest whale of any 

 other kind that you ever met with ? 



An. Length 86 feet, girth uncertain, produce in oil 13 

 (or 15 ?) tons. 



18. The captain and crew, it seems, are rewarded for their 

 exertions by certain shares of the cargo : of what proportions 

 may these shares respectively consist ? 



An. Allowance to captain, officers and crew, something less 

 than one-third (?) of the neat amount of sales. (This an- 

 swer is not very satisfactory.) 



19. What may be the usual expences of a ship fitted for 

 the southern whale-fishery, in a voyage of medium length, 

 and with a full or at least a good cargo ? 



An. If completely fitted, not less than 4000?. exclusive of 

 the value of the ship. 



20. Are there any instances of a ship returning without a 

 sufficient cargo to defray the expences ? 



An. Such a case is very rare : when it does occur, it gene- 

 rally arises out of some mismanagement, or is to be atti'ibut- 

 ed, sometimes, to fortuitous causes, which human prudence 

 can neither foresee nor prevent. 



21 . What was the greatest freight, or most valuable cargo, 

 that you ever knew obtained in one voyage .'' 



An. Freight 30,000/. 



