R E J> O R T. 175 



Sixthly, The land-animal fur-trade. 

 Seventhly, The feather-trade. 



To these inquiries I have added a few remarks upon the 

 articles of export for this branch of commerce, and the general 

 benefits resulting from it, independent of the wealth it brings into 

 the country. 



A full account of the whale-fishery, from its earliest history, is 

 to be found in the Massachusetts Historical Collection, brought 

 down to the commencement of the revolutionary war. At this 

 time, the whale-fishery was confined to Nantucket, almost entirely. 

 The last year, previous to the interruption of the business by the 

 British cruisers, the returns and results of these voyages for the 

 season, were thirty thousand barrels of oil, and one hundred and 

 sixty tons of spermaceti candles. After the close of the conflict, 

 whales becoming scarce on the coast of Brazil, to which place 

 they had, for some years previously been pursued, the enterprising 

 people of Nantucket ventured into the Pacific ocean, where they 

 understood, from the accounts of Vancouver and Cook, that the 

 whales were to be found in great abundance. This was soon 

 after the year 1790. These adventurous voyages were attended 

 with success, and have been increasing ever since, until it may 

 be stated to have reached the following extent, viz. : to vessels of 

 considerable size, sufficiently large, on an average, to carry two 

 thousand barrels of oil : in Nantucket seventy ; in New Bedford 

 sixty ; in New York, Boston, Stonington, New London, &c., at 

 least twenty more ; making in the whole one hundred and fifty. 



Nantucket - 70 



New Bedford 60 



Other places - 20 



150' 



* This estimate was by far too small. 



