iv Prejace. 
authors have accorded whaling its proper significance 
as a factor in commercial development. The histories 
have been chronicles instead of interpretations. 
The present history of the American whale fishery 
aims to give a comprehensive idea of its origin and 
growth from colonial times to the present, emphasizing 
the economic aspects. A chapter on the origin of 
whaling in Europe, which may seem not to belong here, 
has been introduced at the outset as a background for 
our own early colonial efforts. The subsequent chapters 
deal solely with the ups and downs of the American 
fishery, and they attempt to give an intelligent inter- 
pretation of the conditions inducing prosperity or 
depression in this rather typical New England industry. 
The chapters on the ‘Rise of Pacific Whaling,’ the 
“Decline of American Whaling’”’ and ‘‘Whaling Products 
in Commerce,” will prove the most interesting and 
most valuable to the economist or the student of trade 
and industrial conditions. Appendix I will be found 
to give practically all of the available statistics relating 
to the whale fishery during the last century. Most of 
these tables have never before appeared in print, being 
compilations and combinations from a variety of sources. 
Appendix II gives a rather full list of references to books 
and articles about whaling. A critical analysis of the 
most important will be found in the introductory chapter. 
Much valuable information and important data have 
been obtained from a wide range of sources, to which 
reference has been made in every case. I am indebted 
to the Carnegie Institution of Washington, D. C., for 
aid received in preparing this volume. I also owe 
thanks to Professor Emory R. Johnson, of the Uni- 
