128 APPENDIX. 



From 1788, this table is made up from the an- 

 nual accounts laid before Parliament ; and the 

 number of ships, and the tonnage, always refers to 

 the number of those who actually cleared out fou 

 Greenland. We have already given Dr. Colquhouns 

 estimate of the value of the whale oil and whale- 

 bone imported into Great Britain from 1805 to 

 1810. 



American Whale Fishery. — The whale fishery 

 first attracted the attention of the Americans in 

 1690, and originated at the island of Nantucket, 

 in boats from the shore. In 1715, six sloops, of 

 thirty-eight tons burden each, were employed in 

 this fishery, from that island. For many years 

 their adventures were confined to the American 

 coast, but as whales grew scarce here, they were 

 extended to the Western Islands, and to the Bra- 

 zils, and at length to the North and South Seas*. 

 For a long time the Dutch seemed to monopolize 

 the whale fishery, which they followed, with success, 

 in the Greenland or Northern Seas. 



As early as 1663, they had two hundred and 

 two ships employed in this fishery, and in 1721, 

 as many as two hundred and sixty ; in 1788, the 

 number was reduced to sixty-nine, and for many 

 years past, not only has this branch of their com- 



* See Collections, of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 



