[5] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Ship. — When coast-whaling was first essayed by Americans, the 

 smaller class of vessels, such as sloops and schooners, were employed, but 

 very short voyages were made. When, however, it was found necessary, 

 as well as profitable, to " whale out in the deep," the smaller class of 

 vessels gave way to barks and ships, principally the latter. These were 

 invariably sailing vessels, until, in 1880, a bark with auxilliary steam- 

 power, the " Mary and Helen," afterwards the " Kodgers," was success- 

 fully introduced in the Korth Pacific, and subsequently similar vessels 

 owned in New Bedford and San Francisco have been sent to the same 

 grounds. The largest fleet employed in this industry, consisting of 

 schooners, barks, brigs, and several ships, varying from 66 to 440 tons, 

 is owned by New Bedford. The majority of these are barks, which, as 

 is well known, are as large as ships, the only difference being the "rig." 

 The vessels hailing from San Francisco are principally barks, varying 

 from 175 to 533 tons, the latter being the tonnage of the recently con- 

 structed steamer " Bowhead." The vessels owned at Provincetown, 

 with the exception of one brig, the " D. A. Small," 119 tons, are 

 schooner-rigged, and vary from 69 to 117 tons. Boston owns one bark 

 of 395 tons, and several brigs and schooners of from 92 to 123 tons. 

 Edgartown has two barks, of 301 and 314 tons, respectively, and several 

 schooners, varying from 89 to 100 tons. New London is engaged in 

 sealing, as well as whaling, and sends from her wharves schooners of 

 from 134 to 250 tons. Stonington owns two schooners of 70 tons each, 

 and Marion one or two schooners of about 84 tons. 



Camels. — Owing to the difficulty experienced by the heavily laden 

 whale-ships in crossing Nantucket Bar, a kind of lighter, consisting of 

 water-tight compartments, was constructed in 1842. Since the decline 

 of the fishery at this port the camels have been destroyed, and about 

 the only pieces of this peculiar craft that have been saved are to be 

 found in the garden of Mr. F. C. Sanford, of Nantucket, having been 

 utilized in the construction of a dike or terrace. 



Try-works.— The try- works peculiar to whale-ships are built of brick 

 and mortar, framed with wood, the base resting upon the wooden 

 sheathing of the deck. It was formerly the custom to use three try- 

 I)ots, but at the present time none of the vessels have more than two. 

 The early form of try-pot employed by Americans was manufactured in 

 Scotland, some of which are still to be found sunning themselves about 

 the docks at New Bedford and elsewhere, being known as the " En- 

 glish pot," but they are not used at present. The majority of Ameri- 

 can vessels are now fitted with try -pots manufactured at the New Bed- 

 ford foundry. The largest of these weighs 1,200 pounds, with a capacity 

 of 200 gallons ; but smaller sizes of about 180 gallons are more generally 

 used. 



There is also included in this series the " head," full size, of the 

 whaleboat, with a lay figure of the boatsteerer in the act of darting a 

 harpoon. 



