246 HISTORY AND DETAILS OP WHALING. 



whites, to whom the natives made known the discovery, 

 claimed it by a right comprehended, as they affirmed, in the 

 purchase of the island by the original patent. An officer of 

 the crown made his claim to it, and pretended to seize the fish 

 in the name of his majesty, as being property without any par- 

 ticular owner. 



After considerable discussion between the contending par- 

 ties, it was finally settled that the white inhabitants who first 

 found the whale should share the prize equally among them- 

 selves. 



The teeth, however, which were considered very valuable, 

 had been extracted by a white man and an Indian before any 

 others had any knowledge of the whale. 



All difficulty having been settled, a company was then 

 formed that commenced cutting the whale in pieces convenient 

 for transportation to the try works. The sperm procured from 

 the head was thought to be of great value for medicinal pur- 

 poses. It was used both as an internal and external applica- 

 tion ; and such was the credulity of the people that they con- 

 sidered it a certain cure for all diseases ; it was sought with 

 avidity, and for a while was esteemed to be worth its weight 

 in silver." 



" The first sperm whale taken by the Nantucket whalers wa3 

 killed by Christopher Hussey. He was cruising near the shore 

 for ' right ' whales, and was blown off some distance from the 

 land by a strong northerly wind, when he fell in with a school 

 of that species of whale, and killed one, and brought it home. 



" At what date this adventure took place is not fully ascer- 

 tained, but it is supposed that it was not far from 1712. This 

 event imparted new life to the business, for they immediately 

 began to build vessels, of about forty tons, to whale out in the 

 ♦deep,' as it was then called, to distinguish it from 'shore 

 whaling.' They fitted three vessels for six weeks, carried a 

 few hogsheads, sufficient to contain the blubber of one whale, 

 and tried out the oil after they returned home. 



