Apparatus and Methods of Capture. 87 
step appears to have been about twenty years later, for in 
writing of Nantucket whaling in the period about 1750, 
Macy says,” ‘“‘ They began now to employ vessels of larger 
size, some of roo tons burden, and a few were square 
rigged.’’ At that time Nantucket was leading in every- 
thing that pertained to the whale fishery, hence the 
growth of the Nantucket fleet may be regarded as typical 
of all. For over a century thereafter the changes in 
whaling vessels were almost solely in size. In 1791 the 
Pacific fishery was opened, and immediately the longer 
voyages and the desire for larger cargoes led to the 
employment of bigger vessels. The first Nantucket ship 
sailing to the Pacific, 1791, was of 240 tons burden.” 
By 1820 Nantucket had seventy-two ships averaging 
over 280 tons each.” Ships, brigs and barks now rapidly 
came to predominate in the whaling fleet, and before 
1850 vessels of 400 to 500 tons burden were not unusual. 
It has already been seen how the development of 
Arctic whaling resulted in important modifications in 
the nature and quantity of the whaling apparatus. It 
extended in a similar way to the construction of the ships, 
for the encounters with the ice necessitated even more 
sturdy and substantial vessels than had ever before been 
used. As Arctic whaling became more common it was 
soon found of prime importance to enter and leave the 
ice-frequented regions with the least possible delay. 
For nearly fifty years steam vessels had been used in the 
merchant marine of this country and of England. The 
application of steam to whaling vessels suggested the 
possibility of a quicker voyage to the whaling grounds, 
greater facility in cruising for whales among the ice 
floes, and a longer stay with less danger of being caught in 
the pack ice as winter sets in. In 1880 the first steam 
propelled vessel used in the American whale fishery was 
28 Macy, p. 64. 
2 Macy, p. 216. 
Starbuck. p. 95. 
