THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WHALE FISHERY

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVI, Issue 1243, 12 August 1859, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WHALE FISHERY-

\ Front the Whalemen's Shipping List and Merchant*' Transcript,— February 8, 1859.— New Bedford.) Few persons are perhaps fully aware of the extent and variety of occupations which derive direct advantage irom the immense capital employed in the Whale Fishery. In order to present to our readers some definite view of this gigantic enterprise and of tht aggregate amount of outlay which it involves, we have taken pains to ascertain from accurate data the precise nature and amount of the various articles required for outfit of the whole fleet which sailed from New Bedford in the year 1858, and to be enabled to show the annual consumption of material. &c. We shall not undertake to enumerate specifically every article which is usually put on board of the vessels employed in our whaling fleet, % but only those of principal amount, as a sufficient basis for our purpose. During the year 185«, the number of whalfeships which sailed from this port was sixty-five, at an average expense with outfits of $30,500 ; amounting in the aggregate to §1,950,000, or in round numbers, two millions of dollars. Subjoined will be found an accurate statement of the principal articles required for outfits and contingent expenses in the prosecution of their voyages, viz. : — 13,650 bbls. flour 1,000 tons iron hoops 260 bbls. meal 33,000 lbs. rivets 10,400 bbls. beef 520,000 lbs. sheathing cop7,150 bbls. pork, per & yel. metal 19,500 buihels salt 15,000 lbs. sheath, nails 97,500 gals, molasses 52,000 lbs. copp'ng nails 39,000 lbs. rics ' 400 bbls. tar 1,300 bushels beans 739,000 lbs cordage 39,000 lbs dried apples 450 whaleboats 78,000 lbs. sugar 32,500 feet boat boaids 78,000 lbs. butter 65,000 feet pine boards 19,500 lbs. cheeae 36,000 feet of oars 16,300 lbs. ham 8,500 iron poles 32,500 lbs. codfish 22,500 lbs. fl«cr S 78,000 lbs. coffee 23,000 bricks 14,300 lbs. tea 200 catks lime 13,300 lbs. raisins 205,000 yards canvas 1,950 bushels corn 13,000 lbs. cotton twine I 2,600 bushels potatoes 234,000 yds.a'td cot. cloth 1,300 bushels onions 130,000 lbs. tobocco 400 bbls. Vinegar 39,000 lbs. white lead 2,000 lbs. Rp. candles 5,200 gals, linseed oil 32,500 bbls. fresh water 400 do. sp. turpentine 1,200 cords oak wood 13,000 lbs. other paints 260 cords pine wood 2,600 gals, new rum 1,000,000 staves 1,000 gals, other liquors 260,000 feet heading , 120 casks powder The slop bills average about $600 dollars eachaggregate, $39,000. Among the principal articles are the following : — 3,150 monkey jackets 1,300 bed comforters 4,550 pairs thick trowsers6,soo pairs shoes 1,200 pairs thin trowsers 1,000 pairs boots 5,200 woollen shii ts 1,200 frocks 3,250 cotton shirts 1,350 tyrpaulin hats 3,900 under shirU 1,600 palm-leaf hats 3,900 pairs draws 1,600 guernsey frocks 7,800 prs. socks &stockgs.3,9oo tin pots and pans 1,300 pairs blankets 4,700 jack-knives— &c. Ship carpenters' bill (average), $1000 §65,000 Riggers' do do 300 19,500 Blockmakers' do do 200 13,000 Blacksmiths' do do 800 52,000 Caulkers' do do 200 13.000 Sailmakers' do do 350 22,750 Painters' do do 250 16,250 Ship-chandlers' do do 500 32,500 Tin ware do do 100 6,500 Bakers' do do 250 16,250 Spar- makers' do do 400 26,000 Trucking do do 75 4,875 For hose and beilows, - 2,600 For whaling gun*, bombs, and lances, 9,750 Nautical instrument makers' bill, 4,875 For preserved meats, 9 750 Seamen's advances for clothing, 130,000 Stevedores' bill, each $300, 19,500 Medicine chest, each $60, 3,900 Towing ships in and out 1,954 Pilotage, each $60 * 3,900 In addition to the above, each ship was furnished with an average of $200 in specie, amounting to $13,000. In the article of sheathing copper (not a pound of which is manufactured here) it will be seen that our •hips used last year five hundred and twenty thousand pounds, valued at §1 14,400 ; a great portion of which, had we a Rolling Mill in this city, might have been retained among our citizens. The whole number of whale ships which sail from this port is 316, their voyages averaging from three to three and a half years ; thus showing the number of departures last year (65) to be somewhat below the average of ordinary yean. The number of men embarked in the fleet which sailed last year is about two thousand, estimating 30 men to each ship; and the whole number employed in the entire fleet from thi* port, is 9,480. The estimated value of the entire fleet from this port is 9,480. The" estimated .value of the entire fleet from the port is about nine and a half millions dollars. In connection with this subject we cannot refrainfrom renewing our often repeated suggestions relating to the policy of establishing home manufactonei for the supply of a greater portion of the various articles required by our Whaling fleet. It is true that during the past few years the success of the Fishery has been such as to warrant additional investments in the business. But even in this may be found arguments for encoui aging home industry, giving employment to a larger class of skilful mechanics and labourers, and thereby promoting the general prosperity of our city. Instead of founding and building up ports in the Pacific Ocean, let that capital be invested in founding manufactories within our own borderi, where we can hear the buzzing of the machinery which shall give employment to our people throughout the year, and impart a healthy trade to all classes.