ix 
Island, in consideration of the sum of 
26/. sterling, conveyed by deed, about 
half of the Island, to the first ten pur¬ 
chasers, who afterwards took in other 
associates. 
Whaling from Nantucket, was first 
carried on from the shore in boats. In 
1672, James Loper entered into a con¬ 
tract with the inhabitants of the Island, 
for the purpose of prosecuting the whale 
fishery, by which it appears that James 
Loper agreed to be one third in the en- 
terprize, and sundry other people of 
the Island, the other two thirds, in ev¬ 
ery thing connected with the underta¬ 
king. It was further stipulated, that 
for every whale killed by any one of 
the contracting party, the town should 
receive five shillings, and for the en¬ 
couragement of James Loper, the town 
granted him ten seres of , land in some 
convenient situation, and liberty for the 
commonage of three cows, twenty sheep 
and one horse, with necessary, wood 
and water for his use, on condition that 
he should folio w the trade of whaling for 
two years, build upon his land, &c. &c. 
Thus it will be seen that the com¬ 
mencement of whaling at N antucket, 
was on a very small scale, and practised 
