Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1829-02-06
FroY,l che y. y. Enquirer.
TJ,E WIIA|,E, FISHERY.

rbes of industry which the country possesses. |
From Cane Cod, along The sea shore to New Lon |
DON the towns on the sea bafd have been employ |
ed for several wears in that adventurous Navigation.
Ii FIRST originated. we believe, III the lsanri OF Nan
tuckrt a sterile bleak spnt The character OF the
New Enalan.l whaers has something Of the stead
moss the sobriety and eyenness OF the ancient Pu
ritans or modern Qaakcrs. graphic history OF
the Nantucket whale fishery from the earliest tlmes
would be an interesting volume.
Nantucket. New London Stonington, New,
port New Bedford. and Edgarton, are the principal
towns engaged in this business. The whole nun
Der of ships employed at the present time, or tne
hcet" as called by the whaers themselves IS
about 600 They average 275 tons burthen each;
but many of them 500. while others are ohly wv
Yet with these small vessels hey traverse the WI
tlest oceans and the most Stormy seas Large sn,ps
are now gradually introduced INTO the Meet ms
has risen in part from the scarcity OF the whale,
and the increasing length of the voyage. From the
xea 1913 to 1874, the :. fleet performed us sep
ara,e yuYages. The proceeds OF the voyages amour,
fed to SOC $40 barrels Of oil, being an average OF
lTG0 for each ship.
The whale Sims are proysioned for three years.
ii Il highly interesting to witness the preparations
for one OF these long voyages among the motheIS'
wives. sni sisters Of the brave and hardy men VINO
nerf,rm them Natural affection shows Itself m
thousand delightful forms Tine whaemen say that
fhey live much better at sea than land. lhey are
furnished with tea chocolate. coffee. besides many
other ,elicaees The industry and watchtuness
ofthe females in aiding to fit them out. are comnen-
surae with the feelings OF the sex. Their ciothlnS
is particularly a,tcnded to. they have to visit DIS.
taut regions, and cold ATTITUDES. hen they oe-
mart thousand and IA thousand prayers are sent up
h. those they lea behind. The young, the old, the
niide aged mingle on these interesting occasions.
In consequence of these cares, the whale crews
are most generally healthy. In hardhood. they
are scarcely equalled in the world. Some OF them
sail round Cape Horn, and others round the Cape
of Good Hope BY which courses they frequently
meet in the midst Of the Pacific, and exchange sau
tations among the Society Islands. These = Old
salts are better acquainted with these seas than any
other seamen in thu world. From the Southern "a
cifc to the Indian and Chinese seas, there Is scarce
ly an Island a rock or a reef, which are known
that they cannot put their finger upon many, ~
decd, are known 10 them alone. The caution WIN
when they navigatt these has been the primer
pal cause of the few shpwrecks they have suffered
Two men are always stationed at the mast head
whose duty it is to keep sharp look out Tor lane
and breakers. Many Of the Islands in these sea
are low and invisible from the deck OF distant yes
sel--many Of them not laid down IN any chart
and many of them are very incorrectly marked b
geo-raphefs.
The Whale Slips seldom remain over tire
months at tive each whaling ground. - u
kind Il fish most in request Is scarcer ihan II va
in former davs. During the ten years last, II is ca
cuated that 10000 whales a year haze been kiiie'
Ct 9Ra 82o { f AH e 2 sqeo saSae
counter Ia their long voyages, The young men 81,
dy mathe natlcs. navigation, geography and the hi
tory d The South Seas, as connected with their ha
ardous profession. There is much real knowedY
on these prints, communicated from the older to Il
younger sailors, The hardsh,ps Of their busne
are numerous aud APPALLING; tneir life Oversize
BY many curious events, strange sights. seye
storms. and frequent CLEANS OF sunshine and hapI
ne-s.-Ihe whaiprs of Nantucket may be called tt
free Indians OF the Oceau. for their lite partakes
all that enthusiasm and suffering which the latt
experience 10 the wild wGnts OF the west The n
merou, Islands in the seas they frequent, vary nut
their e,entiul lives There is nothi g more delisl
FIJI tan the approach TO of those beautiful
lands il the South Sea-, in fine day,a clear sky,
smooth ocean, and before the impeus Of steat
breeze. On these Islands are fund yams, ifs
COCO and frequently the bread fruit tree in ere
plenty at such places, they often remain I.
days. recruit their crew. traverse the land. leS
themselves on its natural wealth. and then step
board with renovated frames and increased con
dence for their usual pursuits.
The Whale ships gradually proceeding Ii
ther south than they have been heretofore acoustic
ed to do Fhe Seal traders have for years gone
You'd the regular whaler toward the south pu
Many OF The Islands in these remote regions
~ inpelfecty known The currents are uncerla
and the variations Of the needle are in conparat
state Of obscurity, Heretofore the Nantucket "
ers have had 10 construct their Own maps and cha
which necessarily cost them much individual labt
and expense. The proposed Exploring Expedlt
to the South Seas would improve the knowledge
these seas -givng UNDERSTANDABLE aid to the rs
Of whale men, and effect much FIR the inter
of the nation We understand, that several of
whale ships have been missing for some time /
has created great anxiety in the breasts Of ma
Means could be alapte, to ascertain the fate
these ships at the same time the other objects Of
expedition were prosecuted. The employment
such men as have been brought up the naval sci