The Polynesian., 1841-06-12
SATURDAY, JUNE IL, 1871.


and rcsting-place for their victorious in
dustry. Nor is the cquinoctial heat more
discouraginS to them than the accunu!a-
ted winter of both the poles. We learn
that while some of them draw the line or
strike the harpoon on the coast of Africa.
others run the longitude and pursue their
gigantic game along the coast of Brazil.
No sea but what is vcXcd by their fishc-
ries no climate that is not witness to
their toll. Neither the perseverance of
Holland, nor the activity of France. nor
the dcXtcrous and firm sagacity of En-
glish enterprise, ever carried this most
pcrlous mode of hardy industry to the
extent to which it has been pursued by
this recent pcople-a people who are still
in the gristle, and not yet hardened into
manhood"
This traffic was commenced in Nan
tucket, an island in Massachusetts which
looks out upon the Atlantic, and receives
upon its shores the whole sweep of the
ocean. Colonizcd as it first was. bv an
adventurous and hardy race of settlers
from other parts of Massachusetts, the
colonists had ample means and motives
to push their enterprises upon the waters
of its ncghboring coasts. We have a ira
ditionary account of the first expedition
which was set ON foot from this island for
the capture of the whale. 1t appears
that one of the species called g scrarg"
was deserted in the harbor of the infant
colony, where it remained spouting and
gambolling around the shore for three
days. Measures were soon adopted by
the settlers who were the original purclas-
crs of the island for its capture. A
harpoon, rude in its form, was invented
and wrought and after severe contest,
the monster was taken. The success of
this adventure induced the people of that
place to commence the enterprise of TAX
ing whales as a regular business, these
animals being at that time very numerous
around the coast and, as early as 1912,
we find the inhabitants entering into
formal contract with James Lopar, in
which he engages to carry on the " whale
etching" jointly with the town, for two
years, on their giving to him ten acres of
land in some convenient place, with com
monage for two COWS and twenty sheep
and one horse, together with the ncces-
sary wood and water. The town were
by this contract bound to carry on two
thirds of the business, and himself the
other third. This company was to have
the monopoly of the trade, and no other
company was permitted to engage in the
traffic unless they should tender to this
first organized body a portion of its shares.
1t was also provided that mhosoerer Kill
ony 'chole Of The company or company's a.
torcsaId, they are to pay to the town for
every such whale five shilings." John
Savage, Il hardy New England man, was
also procured to settle upon the island in
the capacity OF a cooper, upon nearly the
same terms which had been made by the
proprietors of the town with Lopar. We
may suppose that the profits of this crude
frame OF enterprise were small, but they
were at least sufficient to induce the pros
ecution of this species of traffic.
Meanwhile the people of Cape Cod had
reached considerable proficiency in this
branch of enterprise, and their success in
duced the fishermen of Nantucket to a.