The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-02-28
Decline Of commerce, Of Nantucket.

The Nantucket .utrra- hSs some very pertinent
remark, On the decline of IT. shipping interests, which
are A. applicable 90 Honolulu - that port
~ ship after ship Il, sid. men shake their heads
and sadly say, what Are We going % du:' IL IS
indeed o. be regretted that any occupation should Toe
gone. va which men have achieved fame. aud added
largely o. the wealth u a community anu 10 luiiVIi-
nal comfort. Such Al occupation has been the whale
fishery First launching their light harks from the
shore. then more at,vuturVu>.y making short CNcur-
sious away FROM land uu the hroad Atlantic, then
boldly rounding the stormy Cape, aud pursuing their
gigantic game IL every sea, our ancestors created a
vast business. and achieved fortune and - glorious
name SprIuEiuE from this community New Bed
ford rapidly grew Ike q thrifty child, 20 larger Ill
mansions aud more vigorous lite than those Of rs
parent.
But there are tides III the affairs Of men. In these
latter years whales have diminished IN number, aud
the SURVIVORS have retreated 10 far distant seas. 10
escape the yearly increasing number OF their pur-
suers. The cost Of ships and Of their equipment for
the whale fishery mas increased. At the same time that
the length uf voyages has been extended. and the re-
turns have become uncertain. These are facts well
known by every one. They are causes, IN their COM
biuei influence, for the UuprOntahleuesS uf the whale
fishery. II We take into the calculation all of the
ships fitted from Nantucket for the last forty years.
and consider the result Of their voyages, and the per
sonal experience Of their owners, We shall hnd That
while some individuals have become rich, "a much
larger number have made shipwreck Of their invest
ments. This l. especially truc Of 1.-THE small owners;
mechanics SDt mariners, VINO NANS tahtu Il SlAlG
piece Of a ship" stimulated by the ambition Of being
ranked among 1.-the merchants and by the hope of
becoming suddenly rich.
Men are easily induced TO take shares in 3 lottery;
knowing that their chance Of gaining a prize Is but
small. even in q lottery honestly managed. The
whaling business has been 4 lottery 10 the owners;
and the prices Of tickets have been high. Still, ships
have been fitted, because Of the adventurous instinct
which operates most siEually IN the case Of the COM
mon lottery. 1t is true that while the business Of
whaling has not on the whole been profitable 10
owners, it has brought property 10 the place; sud
directly or otherwise, furnished means OF support to
the entire community.
The equipment of a ship gives employment directly
to a host OF mechanics, and traders, and they impart
10 others the fruits Of their industry. The wages Of
the officers and crews are Of course 80 much more Of
Of real wealth. But we cannot reasonably expect
reasonable men 10 send their property to Sea. when
its return becomes more than ordinarily precarlous.
When the cost Of the factory, machinery, and stock,
and the wages of operatives amount 10 more than the
gross sales Of the manufactured article, and this re-
peataily, manufacturers Will discontinue their invest
meuts. unless they have "a reasonable prospect Of An
improvement in their business. In a similar manner
will ship owners act in their department. The sale
of ships and the rapid reduction OF our aeet, Is TO be
seriously regretted, because it p~aralyzes the trades
and mechanic arts, which are essential TO the OUTFIT
ting Of the voyages. Il Is no loss 10 capitalists. But
now We must find work for the unemployed, or our
tax rates will be enormous. Our expenses cannot be
much reduced. The poor must be fed and clothed,
and our children educated Some reduction of eI-
pense may perhaps be made in the various depart
meuts. hut not 10 an extent which will meet the evil.
Manufactures must he established here, TO furnish
employment 10 those destitute of work. There are
among US 4 few noble men, who seem determined to
change the tide of investment into new channels.
They have introduced and are are sustaining the
shoe business. They are stimulating the clothing
business. They are constantly giving the influence
of their opinions and judgment IN favor retaining
labor NJ home, aud keeping all the money here, which
can Toe 10y paJron'ziug home industry. Not Il dollar
shglll be maid away from the island, for what can
be produced here. in any department of labor, physi-
cal or mental. We will not enlarge. The purpose OF
our article was to check the disposition to desponden-
cy, which seems II be aggravated by every new sale
from our fleet, now reduced TO a very small number
of vessels. We are still raising men, if not lrhGiGS.
Our young men are not all incident nor dependent on
their fathers, bat many are determined to be self-sus-
tanning, NJ home if possible, il not, then abroad. The
world is wide, and the little band that must 60
abroad to seek their fortunes, Will find standing room
rs thair ancestors did Lefnrn them