The Polynesian., 1841-06-19

ana negroes were III npOitcu rom lnc con-
tinent, who resided on that island and be-
came some of the most valuable and active
agents of the whale fishery.
In 1890, the attention of the people of
Nantucket was directed to the sealing
business, from the fact that many very
profitable voyages for the capture of thes
animals had been made fom England,
and as it was nearly allied to the whale
fishery, the seals being found upon the
same coasts, requiring the same outfits and
men, an expedition was accordingly fitted
out from this country for the coast of AZ
RIGA, which although unsuccessful, laid the
foundation of that enterprise whicn has
beeu since so successfully prosecuted in
the United States. During the succeed
inc wear, a number Of successful cruises
having been made by the English vessels
upon the western coast Of South Ameri-
ca, these foreign enterprises induced the
people of Nantucket to range with their
ships upon the same coast. and whaling
ships then first adventurcd from this pol,
to the Pacific Ocean, and almost inyaria-
bi IN'tIHtt WIN Iufl tui %''cs. uC SlC-
cess of the whalcncn OF Nantucket in the
whale fishery induced the people of the
neighboring settlement of New Bedford.
which has since arrived TO great opulence
by this traffic, to increase the number OF
their whaling ships; and III 1892. they
had enlarged their adventures to con-
siderable extent. The market for oil was
at this time also very much extended in
France; lamps were sent into that coun-
try from England, to encourage its use
and large shipments were made from the
United States which proved profitable
but the revolution that afterwards broke
out in that country, swallowed up all for
eign enterprises. The period which the
historian of Nantucket has denomnated
its golden age" was soon turned to an
age of bronze by the circumstances of the
period, for while the French revolution
ehectually prevented the importation Of
the article into that country, most of the
iorci ign markets became gluttcd : the price
of oil in foreign ports fell below that for
which it could be obtained in Nantucket
the provisions required for the outfits ad-
vanced in value, and ruin stared ,he wlIalc-
men in the face. In addition to these
disastrous circumstances, war between
France and the United States was ex-
pectcd while the whaling ships anoa, were
out upon long voyages, and commercial
disaster, like the toreboding twilight of
an eclipse, ovcrshadowed this important
branch of the commerce of the country.
But Notwithstanding ali the difficulties
which followed, we learn that in 1910.
most of the business capital of the island
of Nantucket was at sea, and during that
year, six or eight ships were fitted out
from that port for the Pacific Ocean,
But dark clouds now gathered again upon
the commercial sky, and a war with En-
gland was threatened. The people who
had been engaged in the traffic were soon
deprived of the means of subsistence
and while the motives for adventure in
the traffic diminished, the premiums of
insurance arose to twenty per cent Two
years afterwards, an embargo was laid up
on our commerce, which restriction is gen
orally a sure presage of war. Seven
eighths of the capital of Nantucket were