28 A History of the American Whale Fishery. 
development of the business. Whaling was already on 
the path which a little over a century later was to lead 
it through many a hard struggle to its world-wide promi- 
nence as an American industry. 
As the large vessels were added to the fleet, the voy- 
ages were increased and new regions were visited. During 
the first few years of deep-sea whaling it was the general 
practice for the vessels to go to the “‘southward,”’ as it 
was called, where they cruised until July. Then they 
returned, refitted, and went to the eastward of the 
Grand Banks to finish the season.* Davis Straits were 
visited by the whalemen as early as 1732,” and in 1737 
the ‘‘Boston News Letter” records the entrances and 
clearances of several vessels from that locality. Accord- 
ing to Macy,® the Nantucket whalers extended their 
cruises as follows: Coast of Guinea, 1763; Western 
Islands, 1765; coast of Brazil, 1774. Local tradition 
says that the first Nantucket whaler to ‘‘cross the line”’ 
arrived home on the day of the Battle of Lexington and 
Concord. 
“Between the years 1770 and 1775,’ says Macy,* in 
writing of Nantucket whaling, ‘‘the whaling business 
increased to an extent hitherto unparalleled. In 1770 
there were a little more than 100 vessels engaged, and in 
1775 the number exceeded 150, some of them large brigs.”’ 
Nantucket at the opening of the Revolution was enjoying 
the full tide of success in her great whaling industry. 
The Nantucket whaling interests were by far the most 
important in the colonies. Nantucket led the way in 
all things pertaining to whaling, and the whalers from 
other ports followed its example. The whaling success 
had turned the sterile island into a flourishing, pros- 
perous community, when the war came and all was 
7 Macy, p. 50. 
” Starbuck, p. 24, note. 
"Macy, pi 54. 
1 Macy, p. 233. 
