Without attempting the ambitious task of presenting a comprehensive sketch Of the origin, rise, and fall Of Whale fishing as a whole, it seems necessary to give a brief out line Oi that portion Of the subject bearing upon the theme Of the present book before plunging into the first chapter. This preliminary is the more needed for the reason alluded to in the Preface — the want of knowledge Of the subject that is apparent everywhere. The Greenland whale fishery has been so popularized that most people know something about it; the sperm whale fishery still awaits its Scoresby and a like train of imitators and borrowers.