6 A History of the American Whale Fishery. 
the best of its time, but it unquestionably left the field 
open for a more thoroughly analytical discussion of the 
whale fishery, especially in its economic relations. 
It was stated that the works of Sabine, Scammon and 
Starbuck were the only histories of whaling. The great 
work on the ‘Fisheries and Fishing Industries of the 
United States,’ compiled under the direction of G. 
Brown Goode, in 1884, contains a history of whaling. 
But in most respects it added practically nothing to 
what had been done by Scammon and Starbuck. Page 
after page are quoted directly from these two authors, 
without going beyond what they wrote. Hence there is 
essentially the same incomplete treatment of important 
periods and important aspects of the industry. 
This report is, however, very valuable in one respect, 
that is, in its description of apparatus and methods of 
capture. Scammon discussed that phase somewhat 
and Starbuck touches it incidentally in a number of 
places. But Goode’s compilation gives a very exhaus- 
tive account of apparatus, boats, methods of capture, 
and securing and preparing the products. On this 
phase of the subject Goode is by far the best authority 
up to 1884. 
So much for the few works which have dealt with 
the history of whaling. Only one other source needs 
special mention, that is the ‘‘Whalemen’s Shipping List 
and Merchants’ Transcript,’’ a trade journal published | 
in New Bedford, Mass., since 1843. The ‘‘ Shipping List ” 
began as a mere monthly transcript of clearances, entries 
and cargoes—a small octavo pamphlet. Later on it 
more than doubled in size and was enlarged to a quarto 
Magazine, issued every week, which included important 
discussions concerning the fishery. It is still issued 
weekly, but itis now only a single sheet, the most eloquent 
expression of the decline of whaling. The ‘Shipping List” 
is without question the best single source of information 
regarding the condition of the industry since 1845. Its 
