78 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



by American seamen ; wears the rebel colors & belongs to the Island 

 of Nantucket in Massachusetts. This is the first vessel which displayed 

 the thirteen rebellious stripes of America in any British Port. The 

 vessel lies at Horseley down a little below the Tower, and is intended 

 immediately to return to New England." Immediately alter, almost 

 simultaneously with her, arrived another ship from Nantucket — the 

 Industry, Capt. John Chadwick, while the sloop Speedwell, James 

 Whippey, master, was sent to Aux Cayes.* Those at Nantucket who 

 had capital left resumed the whale-fishery with as many vessels as they 

 could procure. Long comparative immunity from capture had caused 

 the whaling-grounds to become repopulated, and the whales themselves 

 had become less shy and hence more easily killed. Directly succeeding 

 the war the products of the fishery commanded good prices, and soon 

 other ports entered into competition. New London, Sag Harbor, Hud- 

 son, N. Y., Boston, Hingham, Wellfleet, Braintree,t Plymouth, Bristol, 

 each sent out one or more whale-hunters. For a brief time the business 

 promised much profit, but the fever was a fitful one. The excessive prices 

 which the commodity commanded immediately after the war f rapidly be- 

 came reduced; Great Britain, the only market for the sperm-oil, had, by an 

 alien duty of £18 sterling per ton, practically precluded its shipment from 

 America. Oil which before the war was worth £30, now scarcely brought 

 £17, while to cover expenses and leave a reasonable margin for profit, 

 £25 were required.§ The situation was indeed desperate — almost hope- 

 less, la the discussion of means for relief many of the people of Nan- 

 tucket expressed tke opinion that if the island could be made neutral, 

 commercial affairs might assume a more healthy tone. A memorial was 

 finally sent to the legislature of Massachusetts praying relief, and the 

 agents presenting it were instructed to have the subject of neutrality 

 acted upon. As may be readily supposed, however, the invidious legisla- 

 tion that Nantucket was unable to obtain during the war, she would 

 scarcely be likely to get on its conclusion, and the subject of neutrality 

 was very properly dismissed. That the depression in the whaling busi- 

 ness needed some alleviation was, however, too evident to require dis- 

 cussion, and in 1785 the legislature passed cne following preamble and 

 resolution: 



"Whereas this court, having a due sense of the high worth and im- 

 portance of the whale fishery, are desirous of its preservation, not only 

 to this State, but to the United States in general; therefore, 



"Resolved, That there be paid, out of the treasury of this commonwealth, 

 the following bounties upon whale-oil, of the different qualities hereafter 

 mentioned, viz: For every ton of white spermaceti oil, five pounds; for 

 every ton of brown or yellow spermaceti oil, sixty shillings ; for every 

 ton of whale oil, (so called,) forty shillings, that maybe taken or caught 



* Letter of William Rotch, esq. 



t One small schooner of 38 tons burden hailed from Braintree. 



t Macy's Nantucket, 121. 



$ See Mr. Rotch's MS. 



