332 THE ISLAND OP NANTUCKET. 



teeming with the gigantic mammals, they should soon 

 have turned their attention to the pursuit and capture 

 of the whale. 



On the records of the town, under date of June 5, 

 1672, appears the draught of a proposed agreement 

 between one James Loper of the one part and the pro- 

 prietors of the island of Nantucket of the other part. 

 As this is the first recorded recognition of whale fish- 

 ing in the history of our island, it may be a matter of 

 interest to the reader, and is in these words. — 



" 5th. 4th. mo. 1672 James Lopar doth Ingage to 

 carry on a design of whale Citching on the Island of 

 Nantuckket, that is the said James Ingages to be a 

 third in all respeckes, and som of the Town Ingage 

 also to Carrey on the other two thirds with him in like 

 manner, the Town doth also Consent, that first one 

 Company shall begin and afterward the rest of the 

 freeholders or any of them, have liberty to set up 

 another Company Provided that they make a tender to 

 those freeholders that have no share in the first Com- 

 pany and if any refuse, the Eest may go on themselves, 

 and the Town do also Ingage that no other Company 

 shal be allowed hereafter; also whosoever Kil any 

 whale of the Company or Companys aforesaid they ar 

 to pay to the Town for every such Whale five ShiL 

 lings — and for the Incorragement of the said James 

 Lopar the Town doth grant him Ten acres of Land in 

 som convenant place, that he may Chuse in, (wood 

 Land exceped) and also Liberty for the Commonage 

 of the Cows and twenty Sheep and one horse willi 

 necesary Wood and water for his use on Conditions 

 that he follow the Trade of whaleing on the Island two 



