TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



A.— INTRODUCTION: 



Value of the fisheries as accessories to advancing civilization, 1. (Note. — In- 

 tentions of S. H. Jenks, esq., and Hon. L. Sabine to write the history of whaling ; 

 difficulties in the way of compiling the history ; names of parties to whom the 

 author is specially indebted for assistance, 1.) Whalemen the first to display the 

 American flag in foreign ports, 2. The influence of the fisheries in our national 

 politics and diplomacy, 3. (Note,— The experience of a Russian and an English 

 exploring party, 3.) 



B.— ACCOUNT OF THE WHALE-FISHERY from IGOO to 1700 : 



Massachusetts. — Origin of the American whale-fishery, 4. Why the Puritans 

 favored Cape Cod, 4. (Note. — Grant to Massachusetts under the charter, 4.) 

 Indian whaling, 5. (Note. — Whales numerous along the coast of America, 5.) 

 Protection and promotion of the fisheries by Massachusetts, 6. Drift whales, 6. 

 (Note. — Indian custom ; Greenlander's idea of heaven ; Purchases account of 

 whaling, 6.) Letter from the general court of Plymouth to Sandwich, Barnstable, 

 Yarmouth, and Eastham, and reply, 7. Traditi(^ of William Hamilton ; its appar- 

 ent unreasonableness, 7. (Note. — Order of Plymouth court concerning drift whales, 

 7.) Testimony of Randolph to value of whale-fishery, 8. Regulations of general 

 court of Massachusetts concerning drift whales, 8. Inspectors of whales appointed 

 by the Plymouth government ; their duties defined, 8. Connecticut. — Whaling 

 from Connecticut, 9. Resolve of the general court, 9. New York. — The first 

 organized prosecution of whaling probably from Long Island, 9. Regulations of 

 the town of Southampton, 9. (Note. — Settlement of Southampton, 9.) Whaling 

 from Easthampton, 10. Petition of Easthampton, Southampton, and Southwold 

 to the English government, 10. Action of the Dutch, 11. Letter from Samuel 

 Mavericke to Colonel Nicolls, 11. Confirmation by Governor Lovelace of order 

 of Southampton, 11. Drift whales, 12. Employment of Indians, 12. Absorption 

 of the trade in oil by the New England colonies, and consequent disturbance of 

 the authorities at New York, 13. The Dutch interregnum, and its hardships to 

 the people of Long Island, 13. Oppression of the colonial government ; petition 

 of Benjamin Alford, of Boston, 14. (Note. — Blank form of clearance, 14.) Act to 

 encourage trade and navigation, 15. Petition of Timotheus Vanderuen for permis- 

 sion to sail to the Bahamas sperm-whaling, 15. Whaling on Long Island, 1688, 15. 

 Rate of exchange at Easthampton, 1688, 15. First whaling expedition at Nan- 

 tucket, 16. Proposed agreement of James Loper, 16. (Note. — Probability that 

 Loper never settled in Nantucket, 16.) The islanders employ Ichabod Paddock, 

 17. Whaling' at Martha's Vineyard, 17. (Note.— Paddock at Nantucket, 17.) 

 Whaling from Salem, 18. From Canada, 18. (AToie.— Canadian whaling, 18.) 



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