66 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



of so great and such an increasing capital may lead our readers to suppose that a corresponding 

 profit was realized ; but a careful examination of the circumstances under which the business was 

 carried on will show the fallacy of such a conclusion. Many branches of labor were conducted by 

 those who were immediately interested in the voyages. The young men, with few exceptions, 

 were brought up to some trade necessary to the business. The rope-maker, the cooper, the black- 

 smith, the carpenter, in fine, the workmen, were either the ship-owners or of their household ; so 

 were often the officers and men who navigated the vessels and killed the whales. Whilst a ship 

 was at sea, the owners at home were busily employed in the manufactory of casks, iron work, 

 cordage, blocks, and other articles for the succeeding voyage. Thus the profits of the labor were 

 enjoyed by those interested in the fishery, and voyages were rendered advantageous even when 

 the oil obtained was barely sufficient to pay the outfits, estimating the labor as a part thereof. 

 This mode of conducting the business was universal, and has continued to a very considerable 

 extent to the present day. Experience taught the people how to take advantage of the different 

 markets for their oil. Their spermaceti oil was mostly sent to England in its unsepaiated state, 

 the head matter being generally mixed with the body oil ; for, in the early part of whaling it 

 would bring no more when separated than when mixed. The whale oil, which is the kind pro- 

 cured from the species called ' right whale,' was shipped to Boston or elsewhere in the colonies, and 

 there sold for country consumption!, or sent to the West Indies.''* 



The extraordinary zeal that the Americans took in the whale-fishery at this time called forth 

 from Mr. Burke that glowing tribute which has become familiar to every American. " Whether 

 this eloquent address," says Beale, "had any effect or not upon the minds of our own merchants 

 and ship-owners in stimulating them to fit out ships for the sperm and other whale-fisheries, 

 I am not aware, but it is certain that in the following year (1775) the first attempt was made to 

 establish the sperm whale fishery from Britain ; and we accordingly find, from private state- 

 ments on which I can securely rely, that ships of from 100 to 109 tons burden were sent to South 

 Greenland, coast of Brazil, Falkland Islands, and the Gulf of Guinea, for the purpose of procuring 

 sperm and other oils. The names of the ships which were thus employed in these distinct expedi- 

 tions were the Union, Neptune, Rockingham, America, Abigail, Hanover, Industry, Dennis, 

 Beaver, and Sparrow, but the principal places of resort of the spermaceti whale not having been 

 yet discovered, the vessels met with very trifling success. 



"BOUNTIES GRANTED. In the following year, 1776, the Government, with a view to stimulate 

 all persons engaged in these fisheries, established a principle of reward for those ships which were 

 most successsful in their endeavors; in accordance with which, five different bounties or premiums 

 were offered, forming a scale of prizes for those who were so fortunate as to prove the five grada- 

 tions of success, the sum of 500 being the maximum, and that of 100 being the minimum prize. 

 In 1781 four ships were fitted out for the river St. Lawrence, but after they had been out a 

 considerable time they returned with the discouraging announcement of having only procured C 

 gallons of sperm oil among them during the whole time of their absence. 



" SPERM WHALES FROM FRANCE. In 1784, France, which it appears had preceded the other 

 nations of Europe in the whale-fishery, but had for many years past, for some cause or other, 

 hardly had any share in it, now endeavored to revive it, and with this view Louis XVI fitted out 

 six ships from Dunkirk on his own account, which were furnished at a great expense with a 

 number of experienced harpooners and able seamen from Nantucket. The adventure was more 

 successful than could have been reasonably expected, considering the auspicies under which it was 

 carried on. Several private individuals followed the example of His Majesty, according to Mr. 



* MACY: Hist. Nantucket, p. 68. 



