that are to be found in the 'sixth census,' in regard to nosology and education, and they suspect also in regard to other matters therein reported. "In view of these facts, the undersigned, in behalf of said Association, conceive that such documents ought not to have the sanction of Congress, nor ought they to be regarded as containing true statements relative to the condition of the people and the resources of the United States. They believe it would have been far better to have had no census at all, than such an one as has been published; and they respectfully request your honorable body to take such order thereon, and to adopt such measures for the correction of the same, or, if the same cannot be corrected, of discarding and disowning the same, as the good of the country shall require, and as justice and humanity shall demand." We have room for the tables for only three of the States. XIII. WHALE FISHERY OF THE UNITED STATES. Imports from the Whale Fishery into the United States, for the year 1843. Mr. Grinnell, of New Bedford, Mass., a Member of Congress during the last session, in a speech upon the tariff, made the following statements: "I have prepared, with great care, a table from authentic sources, to show the consumption of domestic and foreign articles by our whaling fleet, now consisting of 650 ships, barks, brigs, and schooners, tonnaging 200,000 tons; cost at the time of sailing, $20,000,000; manned by 17,500 officers and seamen, one half of whom are green hands when the vessels sail. By this table it will be seen, that the annual consumption by this fleet is $3,845,500; only $400,000 is of foreign articles. This great source of wealth to the nation is dependent mainly on a home market for its products. The value of the annual import of oil and whalebone in a crude state is $7,000,000; when manufactured, it probably is increased in value to $8,000,000, or $9,000,000. The whole amount of exports of oil, whalebone, and sperm candles, is only $2,000,000, leaving $6,000,000 or $7,000,000 to be consumed in this country. Although this interest is not directly protected by the tariff of 1842, as sperm oil, whale oil, and whalebone are cheaper in this country than any other, yet those interested in it are decidedly in favor of the protective policy. They have found by experience, that, when the manufacturers and mechanics of this country are actively employed, they could sell the products of the fishery at fair prices; when the duties have been low, and almost without discrimination in favor of such articles as are made in this country, that it has been difficult to make sales even at low prices. They are in favor of this policy, notwithstanding that the duties on each whale ship and outfits of 350 tons amount to $1,700; they find themselves fully compensated by the home market. "This fleet of whaling ships is larger than ever pursued the business before. Commercial history furnishes no account of any parallel; our ships now outnumber those of all other nations combined, and the proceeds of its enterprise are in proportion and diffused to every part of our country. The voyages of those engaged in the sperm fishery average three and a half years; they search every sea, and often cruise three and four months with a man at each mast-head on the look-out, without the cheering sight of a whale." 14* |