The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-14
THE U MON.


From the LSnden Chronicle
The Whale Fisherres.
The importance of the whale fisheries, IN whatever
light they may be regarded cannot perhaps De
The ships engaged in tins trade carry more than 'ouo
the number of seamen usually employed IN vessels ol
the in the merchant services and as on sueh
long VOYAGES the crews compelled 10 rely on heir
own resources the fishery is, from this cause, The very
best nursery for the education OF thorough seaeh "no
duty does not end with merely navigating me vessels
but in cases OF emergency extends 10 hat oil shp"rehs
mast makers rggers &c; while moreover, the nature
of their occupation makes them good ooaihe ioi lucy
frequently engaged IN boats SIX hoais a,e M
small share OF skill, energy and courage 10 lhiS oe
superadded the employment which number OF whaling
ships would afford to artisans, radesmen, anu otes ~
their construction and equipment, ana Inc act hai 'he
produce of the hshery VIZ; oil ana whaepone, Is 80
much tceaiM taken out of the sea- al also thst the trade
is one which dspenses with the necessity OF amoassa
DORIS consuls, and commissioners and needs no eaues
of any kind with foreign powers viii be evident That
is especially deserving, above all Others oil cohsdera
ton and ence fragment
But The advantages to be derived from the whale fish
cries do alone the prosecution OF the trade
itself for in the of the voyage opportunities are
continually afforded both OF opening new channels OF
trade, and OF keeping with all parts OF the world the
intercourse 80 created.
There is no ocean or sea into which the vessels
ployed in the southern whale fisheries do not penetrate
neither is there any port or harbor which they do not
occasionally VISIT for the purpose OF afordng refresh
ment to the crews. The residence OF missionaries
amongst the natives OF the South Sea islands is entirely
owing to whaling ships having first frequened those
islands and but for their visits, the missionaries f, IN
deed they had ventured locate themselves In such
remote places) would have had but little OF obtain
ing supplies of various necessary articles, of In
Exchanging communications with their friends.
Although certain quantity OF goods (by the Amerl
cans called Z" noons') is usually placed on board wha
ing ships for the purpose of being baered Tor refresh
mens for the crews, sli as interfering with the Objects
the voyage the trading of those vessels as at present
practised is Objectionable lnasmuch as much evil has
arisen from the masters engaging without The knowledge
or consent of the owners in trade their account
| ind hlS from
cing, by unreasonable delay IN pert the chief object
of the voyage to their personal advantage AS in most
the masters subject themselves 10 heavy penalties
by trading their own account, there can be little
doubt that the risks they have incurred have been
than compensated BY the large profits they have obtained
and thus led to the conclusion, that there exist i'll
the indicated extensive channels of trade which
amsst exclusively in the hands of the Americans
since the number of ships in the fishery from the United
States between 600 and TOO, whilst that from England
does not exceed III
But although generally speaking trading on the part of
whaling ships is to be deprecated interfering with the
legitimate objects OF the voyage, still must not lose
sight of the great benefits conferred by these vessels
the places which they visit, may be nstanced in the
cases of the Sandwich, Society, Friendly and other isl!
ands in the South Seas; and we have lately had expert
ence how much the benefits in question appreciated
by the Spanish governor at Manila, the chief Of the
Philippine islands, in the fact that he has specially ex-
empted chaing ships visiting that place from ali port
charges and duties the articles supplied TO them,
nducement for them TO requen. it. If whaling ships,
therefore, be only regarded of opening and keep
ing up communications between one remote island and
another, it is obvious that they may be made instrument
tai in largely benefttng mankind So employed they
may, in fact, be kened to steamboats, touching inter
mediate stations, to the vehicles of Parcels Delivery
Company carrying small packages from place to place
at a charge infinitely below what would be the cost of
delivering them by any other Now, the sta
lions at which the boats vehicles touch stop
more directly benefited than the conveyancers since it
often happens that in the outset the calls or stoppages
are made without the certainty Of there being either
sengers goods to carry But 1t certain that, with
proper management, whaling ships might be ordered
as TO Afford without the risk of prejudice to the whaling
voyage, facilities for opening new channels of trade,
the masters, if denied the opportunity of obtaining, at
low price, commodities with which to trade their
account, would not have their attention diverted from
the pursuit of the fishery, and would only to be-
come incidental traders upon condition of receiving
indemniication for loss OF time
Although our knowledge of the products Of the Indian
and Pacific oceans is but limited, nevertheless are
aware that the American whaling ships carry on in
OF them extensive trade; as, for instance in bche-
desmer, pearl shells, birds nests, &c. which they dis
pose of principally to the Chinese These products
peculiar to the in question, and independent OF
sugar, coffee, spices cotton, &c, articles which are to
be obtained in abundance, and which, although not
capable of bearing the expense of voyage so distant
from the Sandwich islands England, might be convey
ed with advantage to the Australian colonies, Van.
couvers island, Hong Kong &C., if facilities OF the ma
ture OF those stated afforded for the purpose and
considerable quantities of British manufactures might
thus be disposed OF in barter, and wants created,
which would lead TO increased commerce. i