HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 43 



Of the Long Island fishery the only record accessible is the meager 

 one regarding Sag Harbor. Easthampton, Southampton, and their 

 more immediate neighbors seem to have been supplanted by this 

 younger town.* Probably prior to 1760 vessels had been fitted for 

 whaling from this port ; if so, their identification is impossible. In 

 1760, however, three sloops were fitted out by Joseph Coukling, John 

 Foster, and others. They were named Good luck, Dolphin, and Sac- 

 cess, and their cruising ground was in the vicinity of 36° north latitude. 



The reports regarding Rhode Island are equally meager. Occasional 

 reports are to be found of the arrivals of whaling- vessels, but no report 

 of where they cruised or what success they met with, and no records 

 exist at the custom-house to help clear up the historical mist. Warren 

 comes into notice at this period as quite a thriving whaling-port. The 

 Boston News-Letter of October 23, 1766, says : " Several Vessels em- 

 ployed in the Whale Fishery, from the industrious Town of Warren 

 in Rhode Island Colony, have lately returned, having met with con- 

 siderable success. One Vessel, which went as far as the Western 

 Islands, brought home upwards of 300 Barrels of Oil. Some Vessels 

 from Newport have also been tolerably successful. This Business, 

 which seems to be carried on with Spirit, bids fair to be of great Utility 

 to that Government." 



Williamsburgh, Va., felt the stimulus caused by success in this busi- 

 ness ; and in the early spring of 1751 several gentlemen subscribed a 

 sum of money and fitted out a small sloop, called the "Experiment," 

 for whaling along the southern coast. On the 9th of May, 1751, she 

 returned with a valuable whale. This was the first vessel ever fitted 

 for this pursuit from Virginia, and whether she continued for any length 

 of time in the business is unknown. The encouragement of the first 

 success undoubtedly caused another venture. 



In the vicinity of New Bedford whaling probably commenced but 

 little prior to 1760. In that year William Wood, of Dartmouth, sold to 

 Eluathan Eldredge, of the same town, a certain tract of hind, located 

 within the present town of Fairhaven, and within three-quarters of a 

 mile of the center of the town, on the banks of the Acushnet River, 

 '•Always Excepting and reserving ***** that part of the 

 same where the Try house and Oyl shed now stands." How long these 

 buildings had been standing at the date of this deed is unknown, but 

 the fact of their being there then is indisputable, and, as it was not the 

 habit in those days to put up useless buildings, they were undoubtedly 

 applied to the purpose for which they were built. That they were con- 

 sidered valuable property is evident from the fact of their being reserved. 

 In 1765, four sloops, the Nancy, Polly, Greyhound, and Hannah, owned 

 by Joseph Russell, Caleb Russell, and William Tallman, and from 40 to 

 60 tons burden, were employed in the whale-fishery .t In Ricketson's 



* Sag Harbor was settled in 1730. 



t Ricketson's History of New Bedford, p. 58. Mr. Ricketson says : " To Joseph Russell, 

 the founder of New Bedford, is also attributed the honor of being the pioneer of the 



