HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 63 



annihilation. A few vessels were fitted out early in the war from other 

 ports, but the risk was so great and the necessity so small that the 

 business was soon abandoned. With Nantucket it was simply a case 

 of desperation; the business must be carried on, or the island must be 

 depopulated ; starvation or removal were the only alternatives of in- 

 action. The receipt of the news of the battle at Lexington and Con- 

 cord, glorious as it was to the colonies at large, and glorious as it may 

 have been to the islanders whose religious principles were not rigidly 

 opposed to war in any form and under any circumstances, was to the 

 majority of the inhabitants the announcement of ruined fortunes, anni- 

 hilated commerce, misery, privation, and suffering. Without the imme- 

 diate circle of colonial assistance, knowing that they were cut off from 

 aid in case they were attacked, open to and defenseless at all sides 

 from the predatory raids of avowed enemies and treacherous, pretended 

 friends, the only course left open to them to adopt was to be as void of 

 offense as possible and strive to live through the desperate struggle 

 just about to commence. JSome of the people removed to New York 

 and eventually established the whale-fishery there. Some removed to 

 North Carolina and there formed a community remarkable for thrift and 

 hospitality ; but the vast majority preferred to link their fortunes with 

 those of their island home, and with her sink or swim. Vessels from 

 abroad turned their prows toward home and speeded on their way, 

 hoping to attain their port before English armed vessels could intercept 

 them ; those already arrived were most of them stripped of their sails 

 and rigging and moored to the crowded wharves or run high and dry 

 ashore. 



The petitions of parties for permission to fit out their vessels for 

 whaling were almost invariably complied with by the general court, 

 bonds being given in about £2,000 that the cargo should be landed at 

 some port in the colony, excepting Boston or Nantucket.* 



In 1776 the Continental Congress endeavored to induce France to en- 



* The following is the form of the bond : 



"Know all men by these presents that Nathaniel Macy & Rich'' Mitchell Jr both 

 of Sherburn in the County of Nantucket, are holden & stand linuly bound unto Henry 

 Gardner Esq of Stowe in the County of Middlesex Treasurer of the Colony of the Massa- 

 chusetts Bay or his Successors in s'l office in the Lawful & Just sum of Two thousand 

 pounds to the which payment well & truly to be made we bind ourselves our Heirs 

 Exec' or Administrators, firmly by these presents sealed w*'^ our seal Dated this 

 fourteenth day of September Anno Dom : 1775. 



"The Condition of this obligation is such that whereas the above-said Nathaniel 

 Macy is about to Adventure to sea on a whale Voyage the schooner Dighton Silas 

 Paddack Master — if then the s"^ Silas Paddack or any other person who may have the 

 Command of s*^ schooner Dighton, during s^ Voyage shall well & truly bring or 

 Cause to be brought into some port or harbour of this Colony except the port of Boston 

 or Nantucket all the oil & whale Bone that shall be taken bys'^ schooner Dighton in 

 the Course of s^ Voyage & produce a Certificate under the hands of the Selectmen of 

 s'^ Town Adjoining to such port or harbour that he there Landed ye same then the 



