68 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



cess gave au amazing impulse to all persons engaged in the fisheries, so that several ships, both 

 from this country and America, immediately followed in her track, for on her return in 1790 many 

 vessels were directly sent off, the crews of which continued the fishery along the coasts of Chili 

 and Peru with great advantage; so that in 1791 we had a great addition in the importation of 

 sperm oil, amounting this year to 1,258 tons, making an increase over the importation in the year 

 1786 of 931 tons. In 1791 the bounties were again altered, but the alteration merely related to 

 the time the ships should remain out. The ships which were at this time engaged in the fishery 

 carried from twenty-two to thirty men each. This enterprising branch of commerce was carried 

 on year after year with considerable success, subject to but slight variations in the annual and 

 gradual increase in the importation of oil, giving employment to a vast number of persons, many 

 of whom were enriched to an immense amount by the success which attended their exertions in 

 this now profitable pursuit."* 



The new grounds for sperm whale in the Pacific discovered by American whalemen in 

 English vessels, were soon resorted to by vessels from Nautucket. The first vessels sailed in 

 1791, and returned "loaded with oil, and reported that whales were plenty, the coast agreeable to 

 cruise on, and the climate healthy. This was sufficient encouragement, notwithstanding the 

 length of the voyages, for a considerable part of the whaling interest to be directed that way. 

 An additional number of vessels was then fitted out, which together made a considerable fleet."t 

 SCarbuek says that six ships sailed for ;he Pacific fishery in 1791 from Xautucket and one from 

 New Bedford. In the mean time ships from Dunkirk, among them the Falkland, Canton, and the 

 Harmony, had already performed their voyages, and in February, 1792, arrived at Dunkirk with 



full cargoes. It was the custom in those days to nearly fill with sperm, then return to the 

 Atlantic Ocean and complete their load on the coast of Patagonia or on Brazil Banks, com- 

 manders preferring to round Cape Horn with a' snugly -loaded ship. The names of the six Nan- 



/ tucket vessels were the Beaver, Washington, Hector, Warren, Rebecca, and Favorite. "These 

 ships," says Scammon, " were only 250 tons burden, dull sailers, having no copper on their bottoms, 

 and but scantily fitted with whaling appliances or provisions. The scene of their first exploits was 

 upon the coast of Chili. These pioneer voyages, through the persistent daring of the hardy men 

 who led them, were eminently successful, which induced the people of the neighboring settle- 

 ments of other Nw England ports to extend their whaling commerce, and but few years passed 

 before a numerous fleet were ply.ing over those rough waters. Gradually, however, they extended 

 their cruises toward the more distant but smiling regions of the tropics. As early as 1800,| 

 American whalers were plowing the sparkling waters along the coast of Pern, and their keels 

 cut the equatorial line, north and south, in the Pacific. A favorite cruisiug-ground was from the 

 Spanish Main westward around the Galapagos Islands. There a rich harvest rewarded them, where 

 they labored in a genial climate, with an almost uninterrupted succession of fine breezes and 

 pleasant weather. At certain seasons, north of the equator, the northeast trades blew fresh, and 

 at the south they would frequently increase to a brisk gale; but these periodical breezes, compared 

 with the heavy gales of the Atlantic and the tedious weather about Cape Horn, served only to 

 enliven them into renewed activity under the heated rays of a tropical sun, when in pursuit of 

 ' the vast herds of cachalots which were met with, bounding over or through the crested waxes. 

 During these long voyages it became unavoidably necessary to occasionally go into port, in order 

 to 'recruit ship.' When arrived at these places of supply, good store of fresh meat, water, and 

 vegetables was laid in, and the ship's company were allowed to pass, in turn, a few days of 

 liberty on shore. In due time those ports along the coast of Chili and Peru, which were suited 



: op. tit., pp. 146-149. tMAOY: Hist. Natuckct, p. 141. 1 N:inluukel pupor. 



