176 REPORT. 



Suppose we say eighteen hundred barrels of oil each, with the 

 proportion of candle matter, and allow two years to every voyage, 

 this would furnish a result of one hundred and thirty-five thousand 

 barrels a year, or four millions fifty thousand gallons ; and the 

 spermaceti candles would amount to eight hundred thirty-seven 

 tons, or one million six hundred and seventy-four thousand 

 pounds a year. 



The crews of these vessels amount to about twenty-five each, 

 men and boys ; therefore keeping in employ three thousand seven 

 hundred and fifty seamen ; and thereby keeping up also a school 

 for nautical instruction, superior to any other to be found. This 

 is a business in which there has, as yet, been no great uncertainty 

 or fluctuation. Almost all who have engaged in it have grown 

 rich ; as the market is great for home consumption, and never 

 glutted abroad. 



As the whale-fishery decreases in the sea now frequented for 

 this purpose, other places must be found to pursue it in to advan- 

 tage ; and as the demand for less pure oil for the manufacture of 

 gas light, increases, the islands and shoals should be explored for 

 the porpoise and sea-elephant, who make their haunt in such 

 places; and there can be no doubt that a sufficient number can be 

 found, by proper search, to answer these demands as they arise. 

 Other fisheries in high latitudes may be enlarged, and also found 

 profitable, the salmon and cod fisheries particularly ; as there 

 would be a great demand for them in the South American 

 provinces a people who would not think of supplying themselves 

 for the present. It may be said of fish, perhaps, what cannot be 

 said of any other, or most articles of consumption, that the mar- 

 kets increase with the quantity brought to supply them. 



This is illustrated by the mackerel-fishery, which is principally 

 confined to Massachusetts and Maine. About fifteen years ago, 

 these states, then one state, began to think this branch of business 

 might be made of some importance, and inspectors of this article 



