

EARLY HISTORY. 



ever whales were descried in the bay or offing 

 from the rude " look-outs" constructed along 

 shore, notice was instantly spread, and they 

 were attacked by boats then manned mostly by 

 .e Indians, who early evinced an aptitude and 

 fondness for this business. Shore- whaling 

 seems to have reached its height by 172G, 

 during which year eighty- six whales were taken, 

 eleven in one day. It was continued with 

 declining success up to 1760, and for seventy 

 years preceding that date not a single white 

 man is known to have lost his life in the 

 hazardous pursuit. 



As early as 1700, they began to fit out ves- 

 sels from Cape Cod and Nantucket to " whale 

 out in the deep for sperm whales." These 

 gradually crept alcmg, emboldened by expe- 

 rience, north to the Labradors and south to 

 the Bahamas, where New Providence became 

 famous as a whale fishing station, through the 

 skill and daring of New England enterprise, 

 while, as Burke said, " but in the gristle, and 

 not yet hardened into the bone of manhood." 

 By the year 1771, New England, through 



