Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-15
WHALERS OF CAPE COD
HOW THE BUSINESS WAS CARRIED ON
 IN OLD TIMES

Profitable On.shore Work Lesds to
 World-WIde Enterprise-Ambergr .
 Valuable Solution Found i'm the
 sperm whale-How an Old Captain
 Lost SIG, ,OOO Overheard.
 Of the New England colonies, Province town. on the tip end of Cape Cod, was the first to engage in tho whaling busi- ness. This industry in it's infancy was carried on in small boats from the shore, then in larger vessels that cruiSed along the coast, but never at any great dis tance from the shore. During the earlier period the hump-back and right-whale species were taken, the more valuable sperm whale not approaching the coast, but keeping in midocean on the borders of the Gulf Stream. In fact, this latter species was practically unknown and consequently never hunted until larger vessels were built and proceeded to for eign shores. where the sperm whale was found, and, it's oil being of an exceedingly fine quality and commanding q high price, vessels were fitted out exclusively for that branch of the business.
 In the latter part of the eighteenth century Nantucket men secured the ser vices of the Provincetown people to teach them the art of whaling. Two brothers went to Nantucket and for a long time carried on the whaling from the shore. The business constantly in- creased, making necessary the building of large barks and ships at Nantucket, and making it the largest whaling port in the world. Her Jessels were found in the snow and ice of both frigid zones and the Atlantic ocean was secured over it's whole surface, while hardly an island could be found in the Pacific where any vegetation grew that had not received & visit from some Yankee whaler.
 A large number of retired whaling cap tains are now living in Provincetown who i obtained n sufficient competency in the business during it's palmy days, and who are now enjoying the fruits of their toll in comfort and ease. Bronzed and har- dened though they may appear from ex- posture to the heat and cold of both zones, they bid fair to last for many years to come. There is nothing churlish about them and a more profitable hOura could hardly be spent than in an interview with any one of them, not only as regards their methods of conducting the whaling busi- ness, but of the different manners and customs of the people with whom they came in contact in foreign climes.
 ; A whaler at Provincetown tells a story somewhat as follows: "There Is a sub stance found in the sperm whale known in commercial circles us ambergris. It is u uttIu ScCIellOu lOullu III oSdo WlldlcS, and is used as basis for perfumes. It is very valuable, and a good quality is orth more than it's weight in gold. Its color is dark slate or chocolate, and in many cases its specific gravity is more than water. Old whalemen attributes its formation to the food of whale that is found in the vicinity of the mosquito coast, which consists chiefly of small squids, the sharp bills of which are indi. gestible, and causes an irritation that produces the secretion. The odor is strong and very pungent, but not dis agreeable. It is looked for in all sperm whales captured, as often it's value is more than that of the whole whale. Capt Wm. Curran once found piece weighing eighty pounds. A short warp was found fastened around the piece and hauled tau and an effort was made to pull it in at the
 gangway. The piece was very slimy, anc when he got 1t out of the water 1t slipped from tho rope, and before any one could get hold of it the valuable piece sanl like so much lead. This lump was wortl at least $16, ,OOO."
 There are are 8 good many retired
 whalemen here who were Il Ot so unfortu nate.as Capt. Curran, and it is no infre quent occurrence for one of them to brin: home good lump of ambergris.