PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
197 
which case he enjoyed the same privileges and advantages as -a 
British subject, and was entitled to all the bounties and premiums 
granted to any British ship employed in the whale-fishery, but 
subject to the same regulations and penalties. An enterprizing 
quaker, named Benjamin Rotch, who had long conducted the 
whaling-business at Nantucket, embraced the liberal offers of the 
British government (the object of which was no doubt the des¬ 
truction of our fisheries), and established himself, with several 
families, at the port of Milford, taking with him a number of ships, 
where he carried on business to great advantage. One of his 
ships (the Montezuma), with a British register, fell into my 
hands ; and this, it seems, is the only misfortune which has been 
known to happen to any of his vessels, since he established him¬ 
self in England. 
It is supposed there are not less than sixty ships employed 
in the southern sperm whale-fishery, including those off New Zea¬ 
land, Tiane, and about the Cape of Good Hope, which, with their 
outfits on leaving England, may be estimated at three millions, and 
on their arrival with their cargoes to twelve millions of dollars. 
These ships are bound, under certain penalties, to have on board 
an apprentice for every fifty tons burthen, who, as well as the rest 
of theil’ crews, is protected from impressment into his majesty’s 
service. They are all permitted to arm and sail without convoy, 
but on their return from their voyages always touch at St. Hele¬ 
na to join the homeward bound fleets, as their cargoes are then 
too valuable to trust to the paltry defence which they could make 
with their few men and guns. 
