American whalers fitted out at Nantucket and their catch results between 1787-1789

Biodiversity Heritage Library

Number of whalers yearly fitted out for the Northern whale fishery 18

Total tonnage 1,350 tons

Numbers of whalers yearly fitted out for the Southern whale fishery 18

Total tonnage 2,700 tons

Number of employed seamen 487

Number of barrels spermaceti oil yearly taken 3,800

Number of barrels whale oil yearly taken 8,260

Source

John MacGregor. The progress of America from the discovery by Columbus to the year 1846. Vol II. London, 1847, p. 588.