The Ocean.--The Seaman's Home.--Confidence of the Mariner in his Ship.--Shipwreck.--Moral and religious Claims of Seamen. --The Spirit of the Age.--Interest in the Mariner's Meeting. --Seaport Places.--Sudden Intelligence.--Seamen remembered elsewhere.--Ships supplied with Books.--Bible and Tract Societies.--Good Seed sown.--Field for Usefulness.--The American Seaman.--Concert of Prayer.--All interested.--The most important Reform for Seamen. 226 * * * * * HISTORY AND DETAILS OF WHALING. CHAPTER I. Whale Fishery.--Its Origin.--Where first carried on.--By whom.--Whaling in the Northern Ocean by the Dutch and English. --Contentions between them.--The Success of the Dutch.-- Its Commencement in New England.--"London Documents."--The first Whale Scene in Nantucket.--Boat Whaling.--The Number of Whales taken in one Day.--The first Spermaceti Whale.-- The Interest it excited.--Its supposed Value.--The first Sperm Whale captured.--New Life to the Business.--Whaling in Massachusetts in 1771-75.--Burke's Eulogy on New England Whalers.--Sperm Whaling in Great Britain.--Revived in France.--The American and French Revolutions nearly destroyed the Business.--Loss to Nantucket.--Its Commencement in New Bedford.--Tabular View of the Number of Vessels engaged in Whaling, and Places to which they belong. 241 CHAPTER II. The Whale.--Its Zoology.--The largest known Animal.--Sperm Whale.--Right Whale.--Finback.--Bowhead. 250 CHAPTER III. Whale Blubber.--Enemies of the Whale.--Affection of the Whale for its Young.--Instances. 256 CHAPTER IV. Whale Grounds.--Whaling Seasons, and where Species of Whales are found.--Sperm Whale Grounds.--Right Whale Grounds.-- Humpbacks and Bowheads, where found.--Right Whale not crossing the Equator.--Arctic Passage for Whales.--Maury's Opinion of the Haunts of the Whale in the Polar Sea.--Confirmed by Dr. Kane.--Vessels fitted for Whaling.--Several Classes.--Time of Sailing.--Arrival at Home.--Length of Voyages.--Seasons and between Seasons. 262 CHAPTER V. Increased Length of Whaling Voyages.--Capital.--Value of Oils and Bone.--Value of several Classes of Whaling Vessels.--"Lay." --Boat's Crew.--Whaleboats.--Approaching a Whale.-- Harpooning.--Whale Warp.--Danger when the Line runs out.-- Locomotive Power of the Whale.--Lancing.--Flurry.--Cutting in.--Boiling out.--The "Case and Junk."--The Rapidity with which Oil may be taken. 268 CHAPTER VI. Outfitting and Infitting.--"Runners."--Remedy.--Articles of Clothing.--Whaling Business.--Promotion.--Whale Killing.-- Dangers.--General Success of the Enterprise. 276