New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions . rgely on the bone secured, which is by far the most important feat-ure of many whalers cargoes. It is within the remembrance ofmany an old whaleman when this bone, now so precious, w^as dumpedover the ships side as waste or only saved by the sailors for scrim-shaw work, as they termed their employment in idle hours on ship-board in making curious knick-knacks for friends on shore. Whenfirst saved, the bone had a market value of only a few cents a 1823 it was worth about 12 cents. From that it jumped to
New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions . rgely on the bone secured, which is by far the most important feat-ure of many whalers cargoes. It is within the remembrance ofmany an old whaleman when this bone, now so precious, w^as dumpedover the ships side as waste or only saved by the sailors for scrim-shaw work, as they termed their employment in idle hours on ship-board in making curious knick-knacks for friends on shore. Whenfirst saved, the bone had a market value of only a few cents a 1823 it was worth about 12 cents. From that it jumped to 25, then30 and 40, as its value became more apparent, and when the demandincreased the price rapidly rose to about the present figures. Whilesubstitutes were found tor the other products of the whale-fishery,inventive genius in vain has strived to supply an article that wnll fillthe place of the whalebone. Russian horn, celluloid,— artificial andnatural substances alike have been tried, but none will answer thepurpose. The discovery of petroleum was timely, for the increasing. THE WHALE-FISHERY. 35 demands of the New and the Old World could never have been sup-plied by whale oil, but it is reserved for the future to find that substi-tute which can fill the place of the bone which now advances in pricewith its ever-growing consumption. A rough estimate shows the capital today invested in the whale-fisher} in the world to be not far from two and a quarter millions dol-lars. Of this New Bedford alone has an interest of a million andthree-quarters — seven-ninths of the industry being managed in NewBedford. Despite its decline, it is an undisputed fact that the whale-fisheryof our city, as now carried on, has a larger interest than the whal-ing of the whole outside world together. The statistics given herewith will show the reader something ofthe magnitude of New Bedfords present whaling interests. Vessels Employed in the Whale-fishery January i, 1888. Ships and Barks. Brigs. S
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidbedfordmassa, bookyear1889
