HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 151 



Obadiab, Nicholas, Joseph, John and Moses Brown."* In Boston, Joseph 

 Palmer & Co., consisting of Thomas Fluekar, Nathaniel Gorham, Joseph 

 Palmer, Richard Crauch, and William Belcher. In Newport, which 

 monopolized by far the largest share of this pursuit* were Thomas Robin- 

 son & Co., (William, Thomas, and Joseph Robinson, and William Rich- 

 ardson), Riveria & Co., (Henry Collins and Jacob Rod Reveria), Isaac 

 Stelle & Co., (John Marodsley,t Isaac Stelle and John Slocum), Naphthali 

 Hart & Co., (Naphthali, Samuel, Abraham, and Isaac Hart), Aaron Lopez 

 and Moses Lopez. There was also, besides the Philadelphia tirm, the 

 name of which is not now accessible, one more manufactory, that of 

 Edward Langdon & Son, which was probably located in Boston.f 



In 1761 Richard Cranch & Co. endeavored to associate the manufac- 

 turers for mutual protection in regard to the purchase of "head-matter" 

 and the sale of manufactured stock. Such was the success of the pro- 

 ject that the union was formed and articles drawn up and signed by all 

 the above parties save Moses Lopez and the Philadelphians. The sign- 

 ers formed a general association under the name of "United Company 

 of Spermaceti Chandlers." It was agreed to give positive orders to their 

 agents not to give for head-matter more than £6 sterling per ton above 

 the price of " common merchantable Spermaceti body brown oil," the 

 price of the oil to be determined in all cases by the current prices paid 

 by Boston merchants for the Loudon market, and the members were 

 debarred giving, either directly or indirectly, more than the above rate, 

 or to receive any head-matter acknowledged by the seller to be pre- 

 engaged. No commission exceeding 2^ per cent, was to be allowed to 

 any factor; and if the price of head-matter should continue above the 

 agreed price of the association, the members of the company agreed to 

 fit out at least twelve vessels for whaling, each house furnishing and 

 owning in the fleet equally ; the number of vessels was to be increased 

 from time to time as occasion required. No house was to manufacture 

 for any parties not belonging to the association, and new partners could 

 only be admitted by unanimous consent. Candles were not to be sold 

 in New England at a less price than Is. 10^d. sterling per pound, an 

 additional shilling to be charged for each box made to contain 25 pounds. 



The quantity of head-matter brought into New England was found 

 insufficient to supply the number of factories already at work ; and each 

 member of the compauy was under obligation to do all in his power by 

 fair and honorable means to prevent any increase of competition. 



* The name of this firm was changed in 1763 to Nicholas Brown & Co. This account 

 of the early sperm-candle factories is compiled from Macy's History of Nantucket, 

 from a communication to the Providence Journal signed "M.," aDd from newspapers 

 and memoranda of the time. 



t Probably the same name as Macy spells Mausley. 



i " M." sajs : '' We cannot give the locality of this house." It is judged by the writer, 

 however, to be located in Boston, from the fact that a few years later (in 1769) one John 

 Langdon carried on the sale of sperm oil and the manufacture of candles in that town 

 " iu Fleet street, near the Old North Meeting House." In the same year caudles of this 

 kind are advertised as made by Russell & Howard, of Boston, and Daniel Jenckes & 

 Co., of Providence. 



