26 WHALE FISHERY OF NEW ENGLAND 



that was thrown overboard. The whaling industry increased steadily, 

 except during the wars, until 1857, when the New Bedford fleet num- 

 bered three hundred and twenty-nine vessels, was valued at over twelve 

 million dollars, and employed over twelve thousand seamen. If these 

 vessels had been strung out in line, they would have stretched over ten 

 miles. In addition to these sailors, thousands of others were employed 

 at home making casks, irons, ropes, and many other articles used in 

 whaling. In fact, it was often stated that the population was divided 

 into three parts, those away on a voyage, those returning, and those 

 getting ready for the next trip. 



There were many nationalities represented in the crews of the whalers, 

 and the New Bedford streets presented a very foreign appearance, 

 with Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegians, Germans, French, 

 English, Scotch, Irish, Sandwich Islanders, and New Englanders at 

 every turn. A large number of Portuguese served on whaleships, 

 and a part of the city near the south end of Water Street became known 

 as Fayal. 



The "Golden Age," as it is called, of whaling was between 1825 

 and 1860, and during the whole of this period New Bedford assumed 

 the lead, even long after other ports had given up the pursuit. It is 

 estimated that about the year 1848 there were over seventy millions 

 invested in the industry and seventy thousand persons derived from it 

 their subsistence. 



It is an interesting fact that the insurance on American whalemen 

 was about one-half the rate that was charged the Englishman, which 

 certainly showed the superiority of our Yankee seamen. There were 

 several whaling insurance companies in New Bedford. There is a 

 story told of a New Bedford ship owner who had just heard that his 

 vessel had gone down and he hadn't yet received the insurance policy 

 from the company. He sent a letter down to the office which read 

 as follows: "I have heard from my ship and thee need not place the 

 insurance." Of course, the policy was sent up immediately. 



The New Bedford whalers explored new grounds, and to this fact 

 chiefly is due the continued prosperity of its whale fishery, but it was 

 to die slowly; in 1875 the fleet from this port had declined to 116 

 vessels, in 1886 to 77 ships, and in 1906 to 24. 



One of the chief historical events of New Bedford happened in 1861, 

 when the famous Stone Fleet sailed from that port. The United States 

 government decided to purchase some old ships and sink them in the 

 channels of the harbours of Charleston and Savannah, to prevent block- 

 ade running during the war. H. Bartlett & Sons supervised their 

 purchase and Captain Rodolphus N. Swift was the general agent. 

 Bartlett purchased some of the old whalers for as small a price as thirty- 

 one hundred and fifty dollars, some of them having more cement than 

 wood in their hulls. To James Duddy, a teamster, fell the task of 

 supplying the seventy-five hundred tons of stones with which to fill 

 the vessels, and many a New Bedford stone wall now lies at the bottom 

 of some of our Southern harbours. Captain Rodney French, an old 



