HISTORY AND DETAILS OF WHALING. 245 



which they attacked and killed the whale. This first success 

 encouraged them to undertake whaling as a permanent busi- 

 ness, whales being at that time numerous in the vicinity of 

 the shores. 



Finding, however, that the people of Cape Cod had made 

 greater proficiency in the art of whale catching than them- 

 selves, the inhabitants, in 1690, sent thither and employed a 

 man by the name of Ichabod Paddock to instruct them in the 

 best manner of killing whales and extracting their oil. 



The pursuit of whales was commenced in boats, and was car- 

 ried on from year to year until it became a principal branch 

 of business to the islanders. The Indians readily joined the 

 whites in this new enterprise ; and the most active among them 

 soon became boat steerers and experienced whalemen, and were 

 capable of conducting any part of the business. 



Boat whaling from the shore continued until about the year 

 1760, when the whales became so scarce that it was wholly laid 

 aside. 



The greatest number of whales ever killed and brought to 

 the shore in one day was eleven. In 1726, they were very 

 plenty ; forty- six were taken during that year — a greater 

 number than ever was obtained in one year either before or 

 6ince this date. 



It is a remarkable fact that, notwithstanding the people had 

 to learn the business and carry it on under many hazardous 

 circumstances, yet not a single white person was known to be 

 killed or drowned in the pursuit of whales in the course of 

 seventy years preceding 1760. The whales hitherto caught 

 near the shores in boats were of the ' right ' species. 



The first spermaceti whale known to the inhabitants was 

 found dead and ashore on the west end of the island. It 

 caused great excitement — some demanding a part of the prize 

 under one pretence and some under another, and all were anx- 

 ious to behold so strange an animal. 



The natives claimed the whole because they found it ; the 



