The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

DECLINE OF THE WPIALE FISHERY. 59
soft hat to what he called " Sunday gear." He was much attached to his
telescope, which he had carried nearly a cjuarter of a century, and on the
present occasion he brought it into the cabin, and held it in his hand
while he narrated his whaling experiences. lie explained that he could
talk better in the company of his old spy-glass, as it would remind him
of things he might forget without its aid, and also check him if he went
beyond the truth.
" There are very few men in the whaling business now," said he,
" compared to the number twenty-five years ago. Whales are growing
scarcer every year, and petroleum has taken the place of whale-oil. Con-
sequently, the price of the latter is not in proportion to the difficulty of
getting it. New Bedford used to be an important seaport, and did an
enormous business. It is played out now, and is as dull and sleepy as
a cemetei'y. It was once the great centre of the whaling business, and
made fortunes for a good many men ;
whaling nowadays.
but you don't hear of fortunes in
" I went to sea from New Bedford when I was twelve years old, and
kept at whaling for near on to twenty-seven years. From cabin-boy, I
crept up through all the ranks, till I became captain and part owner, and
it was a good deal of satisfaction to me to be boss of a ship, I can tell you.
When I thought I had had enough of it I retired, and bought a small
farm. I stocked and ran it after my own fashion, called one of my oxen
,