The Polynesian., 1841-06-12
Vol. 2.-NO. 4.


carried on in boats from the shore, and
the white coonists derived important aid
from the Indians. who manifested extra
ordinary aptncss for the fishery of all
kinds. and being placed in responsible
stations as boat-siCcrcrs and headsmen,
they soon become experienced and valua-
bile whacmcn. These boats, in search of
their game, often vcntured even out of
sight of the land during the pleasant days
of winter, and performed feats which are
scarcely exceeded in our own day. After
the whale had been killed, he was towed
ashore and an instrument termed crab,'
and which was similar to a capstan, was
used to "hcavc off" the blubber as fast
as it was cut. This bubbcr was then
placed upon carts, and conveyed to "try-
houses" situated near their dwellings,
where the oil was boiled out and prepared
for market. For the purpose of enabling
the fishermen to dcscry whales at dis
tancc, a high spar was erected upon the
shore, with clcats aflix> d to the top, where
the whalcman with his spy-glass could be
securely lodged, and command broad
view of the ocean. No sensible diminu-
ton of the whales upon the coast appears
to have existed from the first thirty years
of the fishery, although eiehty-six were
taken near the shore during the year
1876, and eleven were sometimes towcd
to the land in one day.
We are informed that the first srerma-
ccti whale known to the inhabitants, was
found dead and ashore upon the south
western part of the island and here
arose several conflicting claims to the right
of property in this dead monster, the In
dians claiming it by right of finding the
whites on the ground of their ownership
of the island and the officer of the crown
seizing it by virtue of the well-known
principle of the laws of England, giving
to the king certain property which is dis
covered to have no visible owner, and in
discussing which, Mr. Justice Blackstone,
if we remember right, specially dcsignates
a stranded whale. The matter was, how
ever, at length adjusted, and the white
men who first found it were permitted to
hold the property, the whale having been
previously divcsted Of his teeth.
TO Christopher Husscy, Nantucket
whaleman, belongs the honor of capturing
the first spcrmaccti whale, and his feat
was performed during the year l7l2, SO
far as it can be ascertaincd. This man,
while cruising near the shore for right
whales,' the species which had been the
principal kind captured by the Nantucket
whalcmon, was blown off from the shore,
and falling in with school of that
species, he succeeded in capturing one,
and towing him into port. This event
gave new impulse to the whale fishery
upon the ocean, for vessels of thirty tons
were soon built for the purpose of extend
ING this traffic. These vessels were fitted
out for cruises of about six weeks, and
carried few hogshcads, capable of con-
tanning the blubbcr OF only one whale.
which, after they had captured, they re-
turned home, when the owners took the
bIubbcr and prepared the oil for market,
dcspalching the ship upon another voy-
age. The boiling was done in lry-hous-
es, which were erected near the landing,
and the outfits and apparatus were placed
i'm WurpiInlscS siIuaIcd near the So,no