140 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



and the French on the same footing, and cut off all danger of overstocking from European rivals, 

 and in January, 1789, this arrangement received its legal ratification.*" 



REVIVAL OF AMERICAN WHALING IN 1789. "The revival of the business in the United 

 States, and the growing scarcity of whales in the waters heretofore mostly frequented, made the 

 equipping of larger vessels a necessity, and from the sloops and schooners which formerly composed 

 the greater portion of the whaling fleet an advance was made to brigs and ships and the field 

 still further extended.t The sperm whale being of the most value, the effort to encompass his 

 capture was greater; and he was pursued, as he fled from his old haunts, till the Pacific Ocean 

 was attained-! At Nantucket the number of vessels soon increased to such an extent that it 

 became necessary to go abroad for men to man them, and some Indians and a large number of 

 negroes were broughtfrom the main-land to aidin filling the crew-lists. Ups and downs the business 

 had then, as it ever has since. A presumed prosperity induced competition, the markets became 

 glutted, and oil was sold at less than the cost of production. The price of whalebone became 

 reduced to 10 cents per pound and lesSj instead of commanding a dollar, as it did prior to the Revolu- 

 tion. The disturbances between England and France, and the internal commotions to which the 

 latter country was subjected, effectually aunnled the effect of the French arret of 1789. So dis- 

 astrously did these things affect whaling that the quarrels of France and England forced many 

 Nantucket men to sell their vessels, others to dismantle and lay theirs up, while a few still held on, 

 some making a little profit, the majority suffering a severe loss." 



TROUBLE WITH FRANCE. " In 1798 came the threats of disturbance between France and the 

 United States. French privateers, in the excess of their zeal, preyed upon American commerce as 

 well as upon that of the powers with whom they were in direct conflict. A large number of vessels 

 fell victims to these depredators, and the friendly relations existing somewhat precariously between 

 France and the United States became nearly supplanted by a state of actual warfare. The whal- 

 ing interest, as usual, was among the earliest sufferers. Early in 1799 many parties in Nautucket 

 sold their ships rather than fit them out at the risk of capture. News began to reach the island 

 that vessels were already captured, and the business of the islanders, both in fishing and trading, 

 almost ceased. Instead of fitting out a dozen ships for whaling but two or three were fitted, and 

 sadness and gloom shrouded every face. The difficulties were finally adjusted and business 

 resumed its old channels, but the losses which the unfortunate Nantucketers sustained by the 

 unjustifiable, piratical depredations, though settled to the satisfaction of our Government and 

 duly receipted for, with others, by the United States, have never been remunerated, while some 

 of the unlucky owners, officers, and underwriters, in comfortable circumstances at the commence- 

 ment of these troubles, lost their little property, the accumulations of years, and died in poverty.|| 



" * Jefferson, ii, 539. When the arret of 29th December, 1787, was drawn np, the first draft was so made as to 

 exclude all European oils, but at the very moment of passing it, they struck out the word ' European,' so that our 

 oils became involved. ' This, I believe,' says he, ' was the effect of a single person in the ministry.' " 



"tSag Harbor re-eutered the business iu 1785 : New Bedford iu 1787 or 1788." 



"{ Iu the Pacific the Americans had been preceded by the Amelia, Captain Shields, an English-fitted ship, manned 

 by the Nantucket colony of whalemen, and sailing for that ocean from London in 1787, her first mate, Archelus Ham- 

 mond, killing the first sperm whale known to have been taken in that ocean. 



" In Jefferson's report he enumerates three qualities of oil : 1, the sperm ; 2, that from the ordinary right whales ; 

 3, that from the right whales on the Brazil Banks, which was darker in color and of a more offensive odor when 

 burned than from No. 2." 



" JThe Boston papers of 1796 reported that the Carisford frigate had arrived at the Cape of Good Hopofrom Eng- 

 land with credentials constituting General Graig governor of the colony, the limits of which were to be so arranged 

 as to cut. off other nations from participation in the Delago Bay fishery." 



"|| The subject of the French spoliation is one to which the people of Nantucket have been particularly sensitive. 

 Isolated communities are more liable to feel that the injustice done to one is an injusutice to all ; hence, although com- 

 paratively few of the islanders suffered from the depredations of the French, or rather from the apparent breach of faith 



