CHAPTER I.

Whale Fishery.--Its Origin.--Where first carried on.--By whom.--Whaling in the Northern Ocean by the Dutch and English. --Contentions between them.--The Success of the Dutch.-- Its Commencement in New England.--"London Documents."--The first Whale Scene in Nantucket.--Boat Whaling.--The Number of Whales taken in one Day.--The first Spermaceti Whale.-- The Interest it excited.--Its supposed Value.--The first Sperm Whale captured.--New Life to the Business.--Whaling in Massachusetts in 1771-75.--Burke's Eulogy on New England Whalers.--Sperm Whaling in Great Britain.--Revived in France.--The American and French Revolutions nearly destroyed the Business.--Loss to Nantucket.--Its Commencement in New Bedford.--Tabular View of the Number of Vessels engaged in Whaling, and Places to which they belong. 241