The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-12-18
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. DECEMBER IS.

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WHATEVER natural advantages these Islands ma
possess as a depot for the recruiting of whale ships
the same advantages may be turned towards fttin
out whaling vessels to be owned by merchants residing
here. This, however. is q branch of business re
curing a large outlay of capital, and is attendec
perhaps with greater risks than any other but a
the same time it meets with a larger return for tn
amount invested than most other pursuits. The at
tempts heretofore to carry on the whale fishery a
this port, have resulted disastrously to the pro
~jectors, and in most cases led to an abandonment O.
the enterprise. But the reasons for such results have
always been clear, for generally the vessels fitted
out have been unseaworthy or uninsurable, and the
parties engaged in it have been of too limited means
to bear the losses resulting from even one poor sea-
sons cruise. 1t is only with the present season that
this branch of business has met with fair success
and what may yet become the most extensive bust
ness of the Kingdom, is probably now fairly begun.
But this stimulus is owing wholly to foreign capital
which is coming in and seeking investment in this
business. Most of those who are now endeavoring to
establish the whaling business here are merchants of
ample means, assisted by captains who have spent
years in this one pursuit and whose success hereto
fore is a sufficient guarantee that their efforts will he
prospered.
Few of our readers are aware of the number of
vessels now sailing from this port and engaged in the
whale fishery. We have gathered some facts relating
to the business and the number of vessels 80 en-
WHALING VESSELS
OOned and fitted out from Honolulu, S. L., for the
year 1856.
Am. bark Harmony, Hampstead, 316 tons, owned by R. Coady
& Co.
Am. bark Neptune, Comstock, 2s7 tons, owned by Capt. J. NJ.
Green and others.
Am. blk Delta, Dubay, 1926 tons, owned by C. a. Williams & Co.
" q Black Warrior, Tibbetts, go tons, owned by James
Makee & Co.
Haw. brig Hawaii, Cook, $50 tons, owned by Melchers & Co.
Am. " Tarquina, Weaver, 30 tons, owned by Allen & Co.,
Qost)
Am. brig Agate, Allen, 1S6 tons, owned by G. A. Williams & Co.
d" " Frances, Chester, ia tons, owned by Capt. Chester.
Bre. " Victoria, COrsen, 200 tons, owned by Hofschlager h
Stapenhorst.
Am. brig Prince de Joinvile, Babcock, 24O tons, owned by Capt.
J. NJ. Green and others.
Am. sch. E. L. Frost, Hampstead, 141 tons, r. Coady & Co.
Am. sch. Forward, 40 tons, lost in Bhering Sea.
Haw. Pfel, schivenbeck, 81 tons, Hofschlager & stapenhorst.
The following vessels will be added to the above
for the year 1857
Am. bark Frances Palmer, Green, 800 tons, owned by c. A.
Williams l. Co.
Am. bark United States, --, 244 tons, owned by do. do.
law. bark Cynthia, scofed, 2O tons, King Il Mcintyre.
're. brig Oahu, Wolde. 1913 tons. Melchers s. Co.
The above lists show that thirteen vessels sailed
rom this port in 1856 as whalers, which number will
pc increased to at least sixteen vessels for the season
1857, with a tonnage of 3419 tons. The expense
fitting out whalers here, though heavy compared
With New Bedford or New London, is probably less
han In any other port in the Pacific. The bark
Cynthia viii be sent to sea we'll fitted for q twol~e1
months cruise at an expense of not more than $15,-
and the cost of the other vessels sent varies from
So, 900 to $S25, 900 each. The capital invested in
he sixteen vessels which will sail next season is not
ar from $275,O 900.
The class of vessels employed in this business,
although better than formerly, is not yet what it
hould be. Good vessels, on which insurance can be
obtained, should only be employed. They cost more
the first place, but will do twice the service. And
hese vessels should be divided into shares-fourths
II eighths. When insured, they would be the safest
Investment desired, and would readily be taken up
~ residents at these Islands. This is the manner in
the whaling business was commenced in New
Bedford and Nantucket, and is still carried on.
Most of these vessels are under the American flag,
wned, fitted out and differed by Americans. Two
re under the Bremen, and three under the Hawaiian
ag. The duty in the United States ON foreign caught
is twenty per cent on the market value of the
rticle at the foreign port from whence it is shipped.
his would have a tendency to exclude Hawaiian oil
rom our nearest market, San Francisco. In England
perm and whale oil are at present duty free. In
5remen they are subject to only a nominal duty of
of one per cent on the cost. Oil taken
lnder the Hawaiian flag, if it should ever become a
arge amount, could find a market in England,
europe o. Australia, free of duty, or be admitted to
hose markets on the same terms as American, which
low supplies European markets.
The vessels which have made the best averages for
he past few seasons, are those which have cruised
rom this port to the westward, through the Japan
taking sometimes one to four sperm whales in
hat sea, and thence North to the Ochossk. The YES
els that have taken this track for the last four
ears average between 100 and 1900 barrels to each.
several of the Kodiak vessels which went I'D to the
Sea have done very well the past sea-
on, but the average for the Kodiak feet is small.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.