HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 91 



In 1798* came the threats of disturbance between Franco and the 

 United States. French privateers in the excess of their zeal preyed 

 upon American commerce as well as upon that of the powers with whom 

 they were in direct conflict. A large number of vessels fell victims to 

 these depredators, and the friendly relations existing somewhat pre. 

 cariously between France and the United States became nearly sup- 

 planted by a state of actual warfare. The whaling interest, as usual, 

 was among the earliest sufferers. Early in 1799 many parties in Nan- 

 tucket sold their ships rather than fit them out at the risk of capture. 

 News began to reach the island that vessels were already captured, and 

 the business of the islanders both in fishing and trading almost ceased. 

 Instead of fitting out a dozen ships for whaling but two or three were 

 fitted, and sadness and gloom shrouded every face. The difiiculties 

 were finally adjusted and business resumed its old channels, but the 

 losses which the unfortunate Nantucketers sustained by the unjustifi- 

 able, piratical depredations, though settled to the satisfaction of our 

 Government and duly receipted for, with others, by the United States, 

 have never been remunerated, while some of the unlucky owners, offi- 

 cers, and underwriters, in comfortable circumstances at the commence- 

 ment of these troubles, lost their little property, the accumulations of 

 years, and died in poverty. t These unauthorized captures were not 



* The Bostoa papers of 179G reported that the Carisford frigate bad arrived at the 

 Cape of Good Hope frota England with credentials constituting General Graig gover- 

 nor of the colony, the limits of which were to be so arranged as to cut off other nations 

 from participation in the Delago Bay fishery. 



t The subject of the French spoliations is one to which the people of Nantucket have 

 been particularly sensitive. Isolated communities are more liable to feel that the in- 

 justice done to one is an injustice to all; hence, although comparatively few of the 

 islanders suffered from the depredations of the French, or rather from the apparent 

 breach of faith on the part of a government bound to protect them and their interests, 

 all felt that seeming injustice as a personal matter. In a letter to the Hon. George 

 McDuffie, giving an account of the claims of Nantucket in this behalf, published In the 

 Warder of May 20, 1846, the following is described as the actual condition of the claim- 

 ants and character of the demands : 



" Ship Joanna, CofBn, taken with 2,000 barrels of oil on board ; value of ship and cargo 

 $40,000; one of the original owners still living — seventy-five years old and j;oor; one of 

 the crew also living, j>oor; the master and mate died recently, jjoor; children still sur- 

 viving; claim never sold. Ship Minerva, Fitch, 1,500 barrels of oil on board; value 

 $30,000 ; one of the original owners living, sixty-eight years old, poor; master still alive, 

 seventj-eight years old, with small means and many dependants; one of the crew alive, 

 foor ; claims never sold. Ship Active, Gardner, 3,000 barrels of oil ou board; value 

 $50,000; same owners as Minerva with captain ; Captain Gardner died two years ago at 

 the age of eishty-five, leaving a large family and grandchildren ; claims never sold. Ship 

 Ann, Coffin, (in merchant service; ; loss of ship $10,000; the captain left a large family 

 in slender circumstances ; one of the underwriters died a few years since, in the alms- 

 house, who, at the time of the capture, stood high among Nantucket merchants; claims 

 never sold.^' 



Speaking in the interest of the whale-fishery, it may be safely asserted that the peo- 

 ple of Nantucket view with regret and disappointment what they consider the gross 

 injustice showed to them (with others) in putting off, upon untenable pretexts, the 

 settlement of these demands. The stern logic of poverty and the almshouse is keener 



