New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14754571636)

Identifier: newbedfordmassac00newb (find matches)
Title: New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: New Bedford Board of Trade Pease, Zeph. W. (Zephaniah Walter), b. 1861 Hough, George A Sayer, William L. (William Lawton), 1848-1914
Subjects: New Bedford (Mass.)
Publisher: (New Bedford) Mercury publishing company, printers
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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argely on the bone secured, which is by far the most important feat-ure of many whalers cargoes. It is within the remembrance ofmany an old whaleman when this bone, now so precious, was dumpedover the ships side as waste or only saved by the sailors for scrim-shaw work, as they termed their employment in idle hours on ship-board in making curious knick-knacks for friends on shore. Whenfirst saved, the bone had a market value of only a few cents a pound.In 1823 it was worth about 12 cents. From that it jumped to 25, then30 and 40, as its value became more apparent, and when the demandincreased the price rapidly rose to about the present figures. Whilesubstitutes were found for the other products of the whale-fishery,inventive genius in vain has strived to supply an article that will fillthe place of the whalebone. Russian horn, celluloid,— artificial andnatural substances alike have been tried, but none will answer thepurpose. The discovery of petroleum was timely, for the increasing
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