APPENDIX C. 



To the sperm-whaleman who now sails to the distant grounds 

 of New Zealand or Japan in pursuit of his gigantic game, the jour- 

 nal annexed may prove interesting, as it shows how near home the 

 business was prosecuted, and how plentiful the sperm-whale once 

 was directly at our doors. It is extracted from the log of the 

 sloop Betsey, of Dartmouth : 



"Avg. 3, 1761. Lat. 45° 54' N., long. 53° 37' W., saw sperm-whale ; killed 

 one. 



^'Aitg. 6. Spoke John Clasberry ; he had got one hundred and five barrels ; 

 told us Seth Folger had got one hundred and fifty barrels. Spoke with two 

 Nantucket men ; they had got one whale between them ; they told us that 

 Jenkens and Dunham had got four whales, and Allen and Pease had got 

 two whales between them. Lat. 42° 57' N. 



"4«jr. 22. Took a spermaceti, etc., etc. 



"4wgr. 28. Saw spermaceti; foggy; lost sight of him. 



^^Aug. 30. Saw spermaceti, but could not strike. Lat. 43°. 



"4m5'. 81. Saw spermaceti plenty ; squally, with thunder. 



"Sept. 2. Saw spermaceti; foggy and dark. 



" Sept. 3. This morning at eight saw a spermaceti ; got into her two 

 short warps and the tow-iron,* but she ran away. In the afternoon came 

 across her again ; got another iron in, but she went away. 



" Sept. 5. Saw spermaceti ; chased, but could not strike. 



" )Ssp(. 6. Saw whales ; struck one, but never saw her again. 



"Sept. 7. Saw small school of spermaceti. Captain Shearman struck one 

 out of the vessel, and killed her. Lat. 43°." 



It is evident that the methods of capture were very imperfect, 

 from the great numbers seen, and the few captured. 



* This was evidently before the tow-line was introduced In this fishery. 



