INTRODUCTION. 



I have for many years wondered that the romantic and 

 exciting experiences of the whale fishery have not been 

 preserved more often in records in our literature. Occa- 

 sionally we have had sketches of one or another detail in 

 this marvellous adventure. But it would seem as if the 

 brave men who engage in such adventure handle harpoons 

 more willingly than they handle pens. And so you shall 

 hear many a story of such adventure told by men who 

 speak of what they have seen, while you do not read one 

 such story. I was very glad, therefore, to hear" that Capt. 

 Charles H. Robbins had put to paper some accounts of his 

 own earlier experiences, and that he has been persuaded to 

 publish them ; and to say to any friend of mine that he 

 may place confident reliance on the narrative of Capt. 

 Robbins, as being that of one who tells of what he saw, of 

 which indeed he was much himself. 



EDWARD E. HALE. 



Roxbury, May 27, 1899. 



