334 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



ures to prevent his return out of the harbor. They 

 accordingly invented and caused to be wrought for 

 them a harpoon, with which they attacked and killed 

 the whale. This first success encouraged them to 

 undertake whaling as a permanent business, whales 

 being at that time numerous in the vicinity of the 

 shores " 



The date of this expedition does not appear. Our 

 judgment would be that it was prior to 1672, however, 

 and that the proposed agreement with Loper was a 

 result of it. 



" In 1690," writes Zaccheus Macy in a communica- 

 tion to the collection of the Massachusetts Historical 

 Society, " the Nantucketers, finding their neighbors on 

 Cape Cod more proficient in the art of killing whales 

 and extracting the oil than themselves, sent thither 

 and employed Ichabod Paddock to remove to the isl- 

 and and instruct them on these points." It is probable 

 that the removal was made, and that Ichabod proved 

 a good teacher; we know that he had apt pupils. 



The early stages of whaling on Nantucket did not 

 require either large vessels or elaborate equipment. 

 So numerous were the whales that boats were sufficient 

 for the former; and for the latter such " craft" as could 

 be easily and cheaply made was all that was necessary- 

 For the purpose of systematizing the work, the 

 southern shore of the island was arranged in four 

 districts, to each of which a crew of six was assigned; 

 the business as a whole being, however, carried on in 

 common. Near the centre of each division, or about 

 three and one half miles apart, was erected a mast pro- 

 vided with cleats, which was used for the purpose of a 



