HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 11 



ent of Mr. Winthrop, belouging to Conitycut Patent, which lycth far 

 more convenient for ye Petitioners assistance in the aforesaid Trade." 

 They desire, therefore, either to continue under the Connecticut govern- 

 ment, or to be made a free corporation. This petition was referred to 

 the " Council on Foreign Phintations." 



This would make the commencement of this industry date back not 

 far from the year 1650. In December, 1652, the directors of the Dutch 

 West India Company write to Director General Peter Stuyvesant, of 

 New York: ''In regard to the whale lishery we understand that it might 

 be taken in hand during some part of the year. If this could be done 

 with advantage, it would be a very desirable matter, and make the 

 trade there flourish and animate many people to try their good luck in 

 that branch.* " In April, (4th,) 1656, the council of Xew York "received 

 the request of Hans Jongh, soldier and tanner, asking for a ton of 

 train-oil ov some of the fat of the whale lately captiiredA 



In April, 1669, Mr. Samuel Mavericke writes to Colonel Nicolls:| 



"On yeEastendof Long Island there were 12 or 13 whales taken before 

 ye end of March, and what since wee heare not ; here are dayly some 

 seen in" the very harbour, sometimes within Mutt Island. Out of the 

 Pinnace the other week they struck two, but lost both, the iron broke 

 in one, the other broke the warpe.§ The Governor hath encouraged 

 some to follow this designe. Two shallops made for itt, but as yett wee 

 doe not heare of any the> have gotten." 



In 1672, the town of Southampton i)assed an order for the regulation 

 of whaling, which, in the latter part of the year, received the following 

 confirmation from Governor Lovelace: "Whereas there was an ordi- 

 nance made at a Towne-Meeting in South Hampton upon the Second 

 Day of May last relating to the Regulation of the Whale ffishing and 

 Employment of the Indyans therein, wherein particularly it is mentioned. 

 That whosoever shall Hire an Indyan to go a-Whaling, shall not give 

 him for his Hire above one Trucking Cloath Coat, for each whale, hee 

 and his Company shall Kill, or halfe the Blubber, without the Whale 

 Bone under a Penalty therein exprest : Upon Considerac'on had there- 

 upon, I have thought good to Allow of the said Order, And do hereby 

 Confirm the same, untill some inconvenience therein shall bee made ap- 

 peare, And do also Order that the like Rule shall bee followed at East 

 Hampton and other Places if they shall flnde it practicable amongst 

 them. 



" Given under my hand in New Yorke, the 28th of IsTovemb'r, 1672. 



[Sign.] "FRAN: LOVELACE."|| 



* N. Y. Col., MSS., vi, p. 75. 

 t N. Y. Col., MSS., vi, p. 354. 

 X N. Y, Col., Kec. iii, p. 183. 



§ It would seem by this that as early as 1669 American whaleman were accustomed 

 to fasten to the whale with their line. 

 II N. Y. Col., MSS. 



