486 CURRENTS AND WHALING. 



traded from the ocean by hard toil, exposure, and danger. The 

 estimated quantity of oil imported into the United States is about four 

 hundred thousand barrels, nearly one-half of which is sperm oil. 



It might be said that the employment of so large a number of 

 persons is not constant, because many of the vessels are always to be 

 found in our harbours. But it is well known that the same number 

 of hands are employed in port as at sea ; and I believe, from my own 

 observation, and the statements of others, that so far from falling 

 below the estimate, the number of persons actually engaged in this 

 business would greatly exceed the registry of the crews, as our ships 

 are constantly in the practice of taking on board extra hands from 

 the Azores, Cape de Verdes, and South Sea islands, which would 

 probably amount to an eighth or a tenth more. 



The number of those on shore to whom this branch of business 

 gives employment, will readily be admitted to be twice as great as 

 that of the crews. When we add to this profitable occupation of so 

 many persons, the value of the domestic products consumed by them, 

 and the benefit that is thus conferred upon both our agricultural and 

 manufacturing interests, the importance of this branch of business will 

 appear greatly enhanced. 



By a large majority of persons, it is believed that the whale-fishery 

 is a mere lottery, in which success is more owing to good luck than 

 to good management. Those, however, who entertain such an opinion, 

 are in error. There is, perhaps, no employment on the ocean wherein 

 a sound judgment is more necessary, and no business where success 

 depends more upon the experience, enterprise, and industry, of the 

 commander, than in that of whaling. 



Voyages may indeed be made by incompetent persons, and by 

 fortuitous circumstances success may be obtained ; but those who 

 are well acquainted with the business, will almost certainly " fill up" in 

 the time allotted to a voyage, and frequently in a much shorter period. 



There are two kinds of whales that are principally the object of 

 search by our whalers. These are the sperm whale (Macrocephalus) 

 and the right whale (Mysticetus). These two animals differ exceed- 

 ingly, both in their form and in their habits. The first is furnished 

 with teeth, the last with a collection of lamina? ; they are therefore 

 adapted to different kinds of food : the former feeds on the large 

 medusae of the ocean, termed by the whalers squid; the other on 

 small crustacea, and small fish. Their feeding grounds are seldom 

 in the same places; for, while the latter frequents the coasts and bays, 

 the former is seldom found except in the deep sea, and generally far 

 from the land. 



