The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-01-06
New Bedford's Calamity.


The Republican Standard Of a late date, under
the beading of Our Calamity, has the follow
ing remarks on the late Arctic disaster
Our CALAMIY.-New Bedford is suddenly
called on 70 take her part IN the general disasters
Of this unprecedented season Of calamity, by the
loss or abandonment of thirty-twO, (thiTty-three,
including bark Oriole, before reported lost out
of the fleet of ~forty-one whalers 10 the Arctic
ocean, our own portlosing twenty-one vessels COM
prising one-eightn, and among them the best pJr-
ton Of our entire whaling fleet, the news of which
fell like a thunder stroke upon our merchants and
citizens on Sunday. This is the severest blow
which has ever fallen upon our leading business.
Though many valuable lives and custly vessels
have previously been lost IN this perIlOus Occupa-
ton. vet never before has there been such a whole
sale destruction. Our best vessels and n very
large amount of capital have been swept away IN
a single season, and it will take our city many
years TO recover from the effects of this disaster.
None of those who venture on the seas are ex-
posed 70 greater perils than that adventurous class
of whalers who seek their prey within the limits
Of the Arctic sea. Every season has witnessed
the loss of more or less vessels, and only last year
the ships which remained late came near being
entirely lost. This season the ice came down from
the North so suddenly and in such masses, that
the whole fleet was enyeloped and driven ashore.
II is u sincere matter Of cOngratulation that 50
far as reported no lives have been lost.
This loss VIII fall heavily upon our community,
and its real extent will not be apparent from the
mere list of agents, as the ownership of the vessels
lost is largely distributed among those of mode
rate means. Though many owners are insured,
vet as our Offices are Mutual ones, they will have
to bear their proportion Of the losses falling upon
them.
But serious as this disaster is it will not be a
crushing one. One compensating effect will be to
increase considerably the value of the stock of OIL
and bone and the vessels in port. Our merchants
will display their usual energy and enterprise, and
we hope will move actively towards retrieving the
loss they have met with. There are over thirty
vessels lying at our wharves, which can be fitted
out in time for another season, if they are rapidly
made ready.
The perils of the Arctic fishery have been so
great that it has already become Il matter of Sc
rious consideration whether it was prudent to in
sure vessels entering Behring's Straits, and we
presume that this calamity will lead to some ac-
ton On this subject.
The Philadelphia North American is confident
that the whaling business is ruined. in consequence
of the extraordinary rise in the petroleum trade.
1t says
The fact is that the whale has had his day, and
though the era in which he fourished was a great
one In distant enterprise, it is by no means to be
regretted that we have found n better and more
permanent reliance. The whale fishery may
struggle on a few years longer, but it's inevitable
doom is as sure as anything can well be in COM
merce. As for the trade based upon it in the
Pacific, we must tax our ingenuity to substitute
something else for it.