The Refinery for whale oil lately established at Rouen, seems
to be an object worthy of national attention. In order to judge of
its importance, the different qualities of whale oil must be noted.
Three qualities are known in the American and English markets. 1.
That of the Spermaceti whale. 2. Of the Groenland whale. 3. Of the
Brazil whale. 1. The Spermaceti whale found by the Nantucketmen in
the neighbourhood of the western Islands, to which they had gone in
pursuit of other whales, retired thence to the coast of Guinea,
afterwards to that of Brazil, and begins now to be best found in the
latitude of the cape of good hope, and even of cape Horn. He is an
active, fierce animal and requires vast address and boldness in the
fisherman. The inhabitants of Brazil make little expeditions from
their coast, and take some of these fish. But the Americans are the
only distant people who have been in the habit of seeking and
attacking them in numbers. The British however, led by the
Nantuckois whom they have decoyed into their service, have begun this
fishery. In 1785 they had 18 ships in it; in 1787, 38: in 1788, 54.
or as some say 64. I have calculated on the middle number 59. Still
they take but a very small proportion of their own demand.
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