In the middle of the last century the district of New Bedford had 

 a fleet of over 400 vessels, mostly ships and barques, engaged in 

 whaling. The introduction of mineral oil as an illuminant, the 

 scarcity of whales, and the Civil War all greatly depleted that fleet, 

 and at the present writing there are no more than one-half dozen 

 vessels which claim New Bedford as their home port. 



It is fitting that the New Bedford Library should make a specialty 

 of books bearing on the engrossing subject of whales and whaling. 

 This pamphlet is the revised edition of "A Collection of Books, Pam- 

 phlets, Log Books, Pictures, etc., Illustrating the Whale Fishery, Con- 

 tained in the Free Public Library, New Bedford, Mass." April, 1907. 

 Since the issue of that pamphlet many books and pictures have been 

 added so it seems timely to issue this new edition. 



In our city the Old Dartmouth Historical Society, with its Whaling 

 Museum, contains a very complete collection of the utensils and para- 

 phernalia associated with whaling, and the very large model ship 

 housed in that museum affords great interest to visitors. With the 

 books and pictures in the library, the student of this fascinating sub- 

 ject will find very much of interest. 



The library solicits additions by gift, or purchase, to its collection. 



GEO. H. TRIPP, 



Librarian. 



