INTRODUCTION. 



Pursuant to instructions received from the United States Commis- 

 sioner of Fish and Fisheries, to take charge of the collection and prep- 

 aration of an exhaustive exhibit illustrative of the whale fishery, to be 

 displayed at the International Fisheries Exhibition of the present year, 

 I proceeded to the principal whaling ports of the eastern coast. The 

 field work was conducted mainly at New Bedford, Provincetown, Nan- 

 tucket, Edgartown, and New London. The object of my visits being 

 known, the whalemen, agents, owners of vessels, and others interested 

 in this industry, with one accord, offered their services to the Govern- 

 ment, and generously responded to its call, in order that the vast ma- 

 chinery of the whale fishery of the United States might be represented 

 in the friendly contest among all the prominent maritime nations of the 

 world. From the fresh material collected on this tour, as well as from 

 objects previously deposited in the Fisheries Division of the National 

 Museum, selections have been made and prepared for final exhibition in 

 London. In the preparation of the whaling craft it has been my desire 

 that the objects should be exhibited as nearly as possible in the same 

 condition in which they are usually placed on whaling vessels. The 

 only exceptions allowed to this plan of operations occur in regard to 

 several objects nickel-plated by one manufacturer, who is anxious to 

 display his goods in an attractive manner. As is well known, the best 

 kinds of wood, rope, iron, and steel are sought by whalemen, and the 

 manufacturers, either through pride or fear of competition, employ the 

 best grades of material, and finish some of their goods in an artistic 

 manner. 



The exhibit embraces, for the most part, the apparatus used at pres- 

 ent ; but some rare and interesting imx>lements that were hastily con- 

 structed on vessels in times of necessity, as well as some that were 

 developed as experiments both at sea and ashore, have also been in- 

 cluded. The unique designs of the last-named series afford an interest- 

 ing study. Some of them are obsolete, while others have developed into 

 more perfect and acceptable forms, and though they have, in part, been 

 superseded by improved contrivances, they have been, nevertheless, 

 actively employed, and are worthy of prominent places. 



Several objects made and used by the Eskimo tribes of the Hudson Bay 

 region appear in this series. New Bedford has been in the habit of send- 

 ing two vessels every season to Hudson Bay, but owin g to the small profits, 

 as well as the dangerous method of prosecuting this fishery, it is more 

 [3] • 273 



2444— Bull. 27 18 



