SPERM WHALE FISHERY. 
143 
accumulated winter of both poles. We learn, that while 
some of them draw the line or strike the harpoon on the 
coast of Africa, others run the longitude, and pursue 
their gigantic game along the coast of Brazil. No sea, 
but what is vexed with their fisheries — no climate that 
is not witness of their toils. Neither the perseverance 
of Holland, nor the activity of France, nor the dexterous 
and firm sagacity of English enterprise, ever carried this 
most perilous mode of hardy industry to the extent to 
which it has been pursued by this recent people,— a 
people who are still in the gristle, and not hardened into 
manhood.” 
Whether this eloquent address had any effect or not 
upon the minds of our own merchants and ship-owners 
in stimulating them to fit out ships for the sperm and 
other whale fisheries, I am not aware, but it is certain 
that in the following year (1775) the first attempt was 
made to establish the sperm whale fishery from Britain; 
and we accordingly find, from private statements on 
which I can securely rely, that ships of from 100 to 109 
tons burthen were sent to South Greenland, coast of 
Brazil, Falkland Islands, and the Gulf of Guinea, for 
the purpose of procuring sperm and other oils. The 
names of the ships which were thus employed in these 
distinct expeditions were the “ Union,’’ “ Neptune,” 
“ Rockingham,” “ America,” “ Abigail, ” “ Hanover,” 
“ Industry,” “ Dennis, ” “ Beaver, ” and “Sparrow;” 
but the principal places of resort of the spermaceti whale 
not having been yet discovered, these vessels met with 
very trifling success. 
