Our whale fisheries are, perhaps, more flourishing now than at any former period. I have formed an estimate of the probable amount thus employed from Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and this port, which would be at risk in case of a war with Spain, which may awaken the attention of those whom it may concern. From New Bedford, there are round Cape Horn or on their passage, 18 ships and 1 brig, whose tonnage is 5347 tons; and they with their outfits cost | $565,000 | | Their return cargoes would probably amount in value to | 800,000 | | From the Vineyard there are two ships which cost | 50,000 | | Their return cargoes would probably amount to | 93,000 | | From Nantucket fifty ships, which probably cost | 1,350,000 | | Their return cargoes would probably amount to | 2,342,000 | | From New Bedford, on this side Cape Horn, there are eleven ships and eight brigs, which probably cost | 277,000 | | Their return cargoes probably will amount to | 363,000 | | From Nantucket ten ships, which probably cost | 140,000 | | And their return cargoes will probably amount to | 227,000 | | Amounting in all to | $6,000,000 | New Bedford Paper.]
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