74 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NOETH ATLANTIC. 



week they struck two, but lost both, the iron broke in one, the other broke the 

 vvarpe. The Governour hath encouraged some to follow this designe. Two 

 shallops made for itt, but as yett wee doe not heare of any they have gotten." 



In a letter from Lord Cornbury to the Lords of Trade, dated July 1, 1708, is 

 the following : 



"... The quantity of Train Oyl made in Long Island is uncertain. Some 

 years they have much more fish than others, for example last year they made four 

 thousand Barrils of Oyl, and this last Season they have not made above Six 

 hundred ; About the middle of October they begin to look out for fish, the Season 

 lasts all November, December, January, February and part of March ; a Yearling 

 will make about forty Barrils of Oyl, a Stunt or Whale of two years old will make 

 sometimes fifty, sometimes Sixty Barrils of Oyl, and the largest whale that I have 

 heard of in these Parts, Yielded one hundred and ten barrils of Oyl, and twelve 

 hundred Weight of bone." ' 



In a warrant signed May 10, 1672, is the following item : 



" Whereas I am given to understand that a Whale hath not long since been 

 cast upon a parcell of Beach claymed to bee w*! 1 in Jno Coopers Bounds or Pre- 

 cincts, of the w ? 1 severall Indians have taken & carried away the Whale-Bone; 

 These are to authorize the said Jno Cooper to make Enquiry into and to make 

 seizure of such Whale-Bone." 5 



An order signed by Governor Andros, in November, 1675, reads thus: 



" Vpon the Peticon and Desire of Jacob Schellinger and Company of East- 

 Hampton, who are joyntly concerned in carrying on a Designe of Whale Killing 

 at the said Place ... I doe hereby give them Liberty to employ the said foure 

 Indyans for this present whale ffishing season. Given under my hand in New 

 YorTce this IS 1 ? day of November 1675. E. Andros." 4 



The petition which called forth this order several times alludes to " this whale 

 season soe nigh at hand." 5 



Thompson's History of Long Island, New York, published originally in 1839, 

 contains some notes on the colonial shore fishery for Right whales at Sag Harbor 

 and Southampton, 6 and also the following : 



" Easthampton, Aprill 2?, 1668. Know all men by these presents, y* wee 

 whose names are signed hereunto, being Indians of Montauket, do engage ourselves 

 in a bond of ten pounds sterling for to goe to sea uppon ye account of killing of 

 whales, this next ensuing season, beginning at the I 8 .' day of November next, end- 

 ing by ye first of Aprill ensuing; and that for ye proper account of Jacobus 

 Skallenger and his partners of Easthampton ; and engage to attend dilligently with 

 all opportunitie for ye killing of whales or other fish, for ye sum of three shillings 

 a day for every Indian ; ye sayd Jacobus Skallenger and partners to furnish all 

 necessarie craft and tackling convenient for ye designe." 



1 O'CALLAGHAN, E. B., Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York, 

 3, p. 183. The index to these volumes is in vol. n. ' Op. tit., 5, p. 59. 



3 Op. cit., 14, p. 665. ' Of. tit., 14, p. 707. ' Op. tit., 14, pp. 708-709. 



'THOMPSON, BENJ. F., History of Long Island, New York, ist ed., 1839, pp. 221-224. 



