The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-01-17
THE SPERM WHALE FISHERY.

The Nantucket Inquirer of Saturday last,
has given the following interesting account
of this fishery during the last year, from
statements which it says, may be relied on
as authentic -
During the year 1887, the quantity OF
spermaceii oil imported into the United
States, amounts to one hundred and seven
ty six. thousand, three hundred and seven-
teen barrels-equal to 5,554, 900 gallons.
This was all procured in the Pacific Ocean
by 81 ships-wtli the exception Iof about
30, 900 barrels brought from the Atlantic
and Indian Oceans, or shipped home ola
Western Islandsby outward bound whalers,
or sent from other ports in consequence of
some disaster. A few of the Pacific ships,
have completed their voyages by taking
whale oil /; but none Of the latter article is
embraced in the above aggregate. The
value Of this product may be estimated in
round numbers, at FIVE millions of dollars.
With regard to the pecuniary nvails
deriyable TO ship owners and others con-
cerned, our friend has divided the return
voyages into four general classes, viz. those
which have resulted pro6tably Those from
which neither loss nor gain has accrued
those which have eventuated in positive
though not ruinous Iosses-and those on
which there have been great sacrifices, say
from zen to thirty thousand dollars each.
On those Of the first class, we have no
means Of ascertaining with any certainty
even the average amount of actual gains
on some few of them the net profit may
have reached thirty or forty thousand dol
lars. There are So Of this casi; 8 Of the
second; ii of the third and 9 of the fourth
the Inter Including two ships which we
find signaIized as having lost about 10000
dollars each.
The most fortunate of these voy ages, was
that of the VIM. Hamilton of New Bedford,
Capt Swain, which obtained 4Isl bbls.
sperm oil, in 3S months-the largest cargo
of oil ever imported. BY the way, We feel
tempted TO add here, that Capt s. 10 Nan
tucket man, born and " raised" nt Newtown,
where boys are taugh, by their enIerprising
mothers to go whaling in the creeks, be-
fore they commence operations in any 9th
er school. He is what is called " Newtown
luck"--and having thus outdone those of
his successful predecessors who have here
tofore been invested with the broad penn ant
of pre-eminence, he may lay aside his har-
poon, and rest upon his oars with honor,
until challenged to renewal of exertion by
some still more efficient arm.j
OF the voyages which terminated within
the last year, the longest was that of the
Emily Morgan of New Bedford. She was
absent 4 years and 10 days. Among the
disastrous occurrences Of the year, are the
total destruction Of ships Meridian and
Reaper, by typhoon in the S. Pacific
ocean ; the loss Of the Independence and
Oregon, stranded on islands in the South
Seas, cargo, &c. partially saved the con-
demna,ion Of ship Roger Williams and bark
Osprsy, and the return Of ship Clifford
Wayne, BY reason Of a mutinous crew.
Most Of the particulars Of these events have
heretofore been communicated; but it may
be well 10 revert to some Of the principal
facts, and briefly embody them in this ar
ticle.
The McriJisn left Edeanown 10 Nov.
1894, and was successful io the fishery un-
I'll Dec. 1896, when she was heard from,
with 23O0 bbls. oil. The Reaper sailed
from this por in Oct. 1886, and At las,