160 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



knowD as India Point, in Providence, and engaged Crabb to superintend 

 the business. Brown manufactured that year about 300 barrels of 

 spermaceti, which was nearly all that was saved separately from the 

 body-oil, and not sent to England. Crabb proved less capable than 

 Brown supposed, and the secret of refining was only acquired by Brown 

 as the result ot his own experiments. 



In 1754 or '55, Moses Lopez engaged in the business in a small way, 

 at Newport, followed soon after by Collins & Reveria, Aaron Lopez, 

 John Maunsley & Co., Thomas Robinson, and others. In 1761 there 

 were eight mauufactoiies in New England and one in Philadelphia. 

 These were : in Providence, Obadiah Brown & Co., the firm consisting of 



to this Court that he (A) has the Art of making Candles of Coarse Spama Caiti Oyle and 

 has been at Great Expense in providing himself wifh proper Implements therefor and 

 s Willing on due encouragment to undertake and Carry on that Business here and 

 to Teach and Instruct Some of the Inhabitants of this province his Art Aforesaid, and 

 this Court being Willing to Encourage an undertaking so likely to jjrove Beneficial to 

 the province : — 



" Therefore Bo it Enacted by the Lieuf-Governour, Council And House of Repre- 

 sentatives — That the said Benjamin Crabb and his Heirs shall and may have and 

 enjoy the Sole use, Exercise and Benefit of making Candles of Course Sperma Cteti 

 Oyle (B) fVithiyi this province for Sale for the Term of Fourteen years next ensuing ihejiuh- 

 lication of this Act provided he forthtvith engage in and Carry on the Business Aforesaid 

 ivithin this province During that Term and Do Instruct Five of the Inhabitants of this province 

 the Art Aforesaid Within Ten years after the publication of this Act — . 



" And be it further Enacted by the Authority Aforesaid that no person or person s 

 saving such only as shall first obtainethe Consent of thssaid Crabb or his Heirs signifie' 

 under his or their hands shall Sell Within this province or Export out of it any Candles 

 made of the Oyle (C) Aforesaid during the time the said Cobb And his Heirs are 

 Entitled to the priviledge Aforesaid other than Such as are made by the said Crabb 

 his Heirs or Assigns on pain of Forfeiting Ten pounds For each oifence." 



This bill passed its three readings on January 25, 1750, and was sent to the council 

 for concurrence. On the 6th of February the council retui'ned it with these amend- 

 ments, viz : " Insert at A: — And no other Person in the Province has the Art of pressing, 

 fluxing & chrystalizing of Sperma Ceti & course Sperma Ceti Oyle, and of making 

 Candles of the same as so prepared. Insert at B : — So prepared untill the 31 day of 

 May which shall be in the year of our Lord 1759 Provided that He do forthwith engage 

 in & carry on the business aforesaid within this Province: and shall some time before 

 the 31 day of May 1752 remove to some place within seven Miles of the Town of Bos- 

 ton & there set up Works suitable for carrying on the said Business; and shall then 

 & there manufacture all such quantities of Oyl as can bo i^rocured fit for the jiurpose ; 

 and shall likewise within five years from the publication of this Act well & fully instruct 

 five of the Inhabitants of this Province (two of whom shall be appointed by General 

 Court if they see cause) in the Art aforesaid. Insert at C: — prepared as." 



(The amendments A and B would strike out the words italicized.) 



The liouse concurred with amendment A, and returned the bill to the council, who, 

 though first non-concurring, finally, on the 12th of Feb., 1750, agreed with the amended 

 house bill. 



It will seem evident that this Benjamin Crabb and the one mentioned by Macy must 

 be the same party, in which case he must have presented his petition late in 1749; and 

 there is scarcely a chance that he was manufacturing in Rhode Island prior to 1750. 

 There seems no means of knowing whether he ever i^ursued his occupation in Massa- 

 chusetts or not. According to Macy it would appear that for some reason he did not 

 accept the terms of the act. 



