184 ZOOLOGY. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Historical notice of the Sperm Whale Fishery Its commencement by 

 the Americans Rise and Progress in Great Britain and her colonies 

 First carried into the Pacific Ocean by the British, in 1788 Com- 

 mercial details South- Seamen Their equipment, crew, economy, 

 and destinations Boats, lines, weapons and other implements. 



THE history of this fishery may be carried back to a 

 very early date, if we regard the desultory manner in 

 which the Sperm Whale was formerly captured by the 

 nations of continental Europe, when the species occurred 

 to them in the waters around their coasts, or during their 

 voyages in search of the Greenland Whale. But the 

 earliest period at which we find the pursuit conducted 

 upon a systematic plan, and prominently employing the 

 energies of a civilized people, may be referred to about 

 the year 16^0, when the Sperm Fishery was commenced 

 by our American colonists ; those hardy people having 

 the greater inducement to embark in the enterprise, 

 from their adopted shores being at that time the fre- 

 quent resort of the Cachalot, as well as situated in the 

 close vicinity of other and more prolific whaling 

 grounds, which have retained their reputation to the 

 present day. 



For many subsequent years, the Americans continued 

 to engross this branch of commerce ; and England was 

 well contented to receive from them, as a colonial im- 

 portation, such products of the fishery as she required. 

 When, however, the war of independence virtually 

 separated the interests of the two countries, arid when 

 the result of that conflict gave to the world a new and 



