THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



CHAPTEE I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



" The mighty whale doth in those harbors lye, 

 Whose oyle the careful merchant dear will buy." 



Old English Poem. 



he Whale Fishery Early History Dutch Fishing Settle- 

 ment at Smeerenburg The rise of the New England 

 Whale Fishery : its temporary suspension and rapid reco- 

 very The American Whaling Fleet Statistics of the 

 Trade Sources of information respecting Cruising Grounds 

 The Author's intention in the present Work. 



FKOM very early times it is probable that 

 North-west Indians, Esquimaux, and Nor- 

 wegians were in the habit of capturing whales 

 in their rude way, in order to supply themselves 

 with fat and food. There is a curious tradition 

 extant of one Ochter, a Norwegian, who, as 

 long ago as King Alfred's time, " was one of 

 six that had killed sixty whales in two days, 



B 



