3009. FISHERIES, British rivalry in.—
England fears no rivals in the whale fishery
but America; or rather, it is the whale fishery
of America, of which she is endeavoring to
possess herself. It is for this object she is
making the present extraordinary efforts, by
bounties and other encouragements; and her
success, so far, is very flattering. Before the
war, she had not one hundred vessels in the
whale trade, while America employed three
hundred and nine. In 1786, Great Britain
employed one hundred and fifty-one vessels;
in 1787, two hundred and eighty-six; in
1788, three hundred and fourteen, nearly the
ancient American number; while the latter
has fallen to about eighty. They have just
changed places then; England having gained
exactly what America has lost. France, by
her ports and markets, holds the balance between
the two contending parties, and gives
the victory, by opening and shutting them,
to which she pleases.—
To Comte Montmorin. Washington ed. ii, 523.
(P.
1788)
