42 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



cuinscribed. At the Vineyard a livelihood could be attained from till- 

 ing the earth, at Nantucket a large portion of that which sustained life 

 must be wrested from the ocean. A constant struggle with nature, and 

 a constant surmounting of those obstacles incident to their location and 

 surroundings, developed within the Nautucketois a spirit of adventure 

 which was carefully trained into channels of enterprise and usefulness. 

 Hence, the early history of whaling on Martha's Vineyard was not that 

 ultimate success that it was on Nantucket, and while the year 1775 

 found the latter with a fleet of 150 vessels with a burden of 15,000 tons, 

 the former at the same period could count but 12 vessels and an aggre- 

 gate of 720 tons. 



In 1752 Mr. John Newman and Timothy Coffin built a vessel of 75 

 tons, but she was also destined to a brief existence. On her second 

 voyage whaling she was captured near th e Grand Banks by the French, 

 and Captain Coffin, her commander, lost his life, his vessel, and his 

 cargo. In the same year (1752) John Norton, esq., with others, pur- 

 chased a vessel of 55 tons for the carrying on of this business, and, like 

 her contemporary, she failed to survive her second voyage, but was cast 

 away on the coast of Carolina, Capt. Christopher Beetle being at the 

 time in command. Mr. Norton immediately chartered a vessel to get 

 his own Off, but on their arrival on Carolina, his vessel was gone with 

 her sails, rigging, and appurtenances, and he out of pocket a further 

 sum of $500 to the wrecking party. Eight years later (17G0), Esquire 

 Norton, with others, built the sloop Polly, 65 tons burden. On her 

 third whaling trip to the southward she too was lost, and by her 

 destruction perished Nicholas Butler, her captain, and thirteen men. 

 Eepeated losses had reduced Norton to somewhat straitened circum- 

 stances, and, selling what property he had left, he removed to Connecti- 

 cut, where he died. 



It is impossible to separate in the accounts of whaling at this time 

 the share which Boston took in it from that taken by other ports. The 

 reports which may be found in the current papers rarely gave the name 

 of the port to which entering or clearing vessels belonged. In fact 

 the majority of the reports are merely records of accidents, and it is 

 very rarely indeed that the amount of oil taken by returning whalers is 

 given. 



In 17G2 a whaling-schooner commanded by Bickford was to- 

 tally lost on Seil (?) Islands. The crew, fourteen in number, were taken 

 off by a fishing-vessel.* 



* Boston News-Letter. It would afford an interesting study to trace the various 



fashions to their commencement and see if their return is marked hy particular eras, 



or whether it is altogether spasmodic. What particularly called this to mind was 



reading in the News-Letter some lines addressed to a young lady's wardrohe, of which 



poem these four lines are appropriate here, and may serve as an illustration of tho 



rest: 



" To grace the well ahap'd Foot, in Turkey's Soil, 

 Through Life's short Span laborious Silkworms' toil 

 The Whale in Zenibla's frozen Region found, 

 That forma the swelling Uoop's capacious Round. 



