in the Greenland seas, under certain conditions. But this
bounty was found to draw too largely upon the treasury; and while the
subject was under discussion in the British Parliament, in 1786, it
was stated that the sums which that country had paid in bounties to
the Greenland fishers, amounted to 1,265,461 pounds sterling. Six
thousand seamen were employed in that fishery, and each cost the
government L13 10s. _per annum_. The great encouragement given to that
branch of commerce, caused so large a number to engage in it, that the
oil market became glutted, and it was found necessary to export
considerable quantities.

In 1786, the number of British ships engaged in the whale fishery to
Davis's Strait and the Greenland seas, was 139, besides 15 from
Scotland. In 1787, notwithstanding the bounty had been diminished, the
number of English ships was 217, and the following year 222.

The charter right of the Island of Nantucket, was bought by Thomas
Mayhew, of Watertown, of Joseph Ferrick, steward to Lord Sterling, in
1641; and afterwards sold to Tristram Coffin, and his associates, who
settled upon it in 1659. On the 10th of May, 1660, Sachems, Wonnook,
and Nickannoose, for and in behalf of the nations of the Island, in
consideration of the sum of 26_l._ sterling, conveyed by deed, about
half of the Island, to the first ten purchasers, who afterwards took
in other associates.

Whaling from Nantucket, was first carried on from the shore in boats.
In 1672, James Loper entered into a contract with the inhabitants of
the Island, for the purpose of prosecuting the whale fishery, by which
it appears that James Loper agreed to be one third in the enterprize,
and sundry other people of the Island, the other two thirds, in every
thing connected with the undertaking. It was further stipulated, that
for every whale killed by any one of the contracting party, the town
should receive five shillings, and for the encouragement of James
Loper, the town granted him ten acres of land in some convenient
situation, and liberty for the _commonage_ of three cows, twenty sheep
and one horse, with necessary wood and water for his use, on condition
that he should follow the _trade_ of whaling for two years, build upon
his land, &c. &c.

Thus it will be seen that the commencement of whaling at Nantucket,
was on a very small scale, and practised only along the shores of the
Island;--whereas, at this time, our ships leave no seas unexplored in
p