HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 7 



claimant appeared to dispute his title, might presume to claim the other 

 third. Evidently at times some disposition to rebel was manifested, for 

 in 1CG1, the general court of Plymouth Colony sent to Sandwich, Barn- 

 stable, Yarmouth, and Easthaui the following proposition : 



" Oct. 1, 10GL — Loueing Frinds: Whereas the Generall Court was 

 pleased to make some proposition to you respecting the drift fish or 

 whales; in case you should refuse theire proffer, they impowered mee, 

 though vnfitt, to farme out what should belouge vnto them on that ac- 

 count; and seeing the time is expired, and it fales into my hands to 

 dispose of, I doe therefore, with the advice of the Court, in ausware to 

 your remonstrance, say, that if you will duely and trewly pay to the 

 countrey for euery whale that shall come one hogshead of oyle att Bos- 

 ton, where I shall appoint, and that current and merchantable, without 

 any charge or trouble to the countrey.* — I say, for peace and quietness 

 sake you shall have it for this present season, leaueing you aud the 

 Election Court to set:le it soe as it may bee to satisfaction on both 

 sides; and in case you accept not of this tender, to send it within four- 

 teen dayes after the date heerof and if I heare not from you, I shall take 

 it for graunted that you will accept of it, and shall expect the accom- 

 plishment of the same. 

 " Youers to vse, 



"CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH TREASU."f 



The offer was accepted and indorsed as follows : 



"The sixt of the first month G1-G2. 

 "Agreement to give 2 bbls of oyle from each whale according to prop- 

 osition made for yeare past, to eud all troubles. 



"ANTHONY THACHER. 

 "ROBERT DENIS. 

 " THOMAS BOARDMAN. 

 "RICHARD TAYLER." 

 Numerous instances of orders relating to drift-whales occur in the 

 records of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and New York. In 1GG2, the 

 town of Eastham voted that a part of every whale cast ashore should 

 be appropriated for the support of the ministry.^ Many were the dis- 

 putes that the general court was called upon to adjust in regard to 

 stranded whales, but the decisions seem to be, if not generally satisfac- 

 tory, at least universally acquiesced in. 



The earliest account of whale-killing by the people of Cape Cod comes 

 to us in the form of a tradition, and quite an unsatisfactory and improba- 



* By an order of court, June G, 1G54, whales cast up on lands of purchasers belonged 

 to said proprietors. (Plym. Col. Rec. iii, p. 53.) This being much more satisfactory than 

 the order compelling tribute to the government, probably caused ill-feeling when the 

 general court preferred a claim. 



t Plym. Col. Rec, vol. iv, p. 6. 



t Freeman's Hist. Cape Cod, ii, p. 352. 



