The Maritime History of Massachusetts, 1783 1860 #223815

Here is no catalogue of ships, reader, nor naval chronicle, but a story of maritime enterprise; of the shipping, sea borne commerce, whaling, and fishing belonging to one American commonwealth. I have chosen to catch the story athalfflood, when Massachusetts vessels first sought Far Eastern waters. And to stay with it only so long as wind and sail would serve. For to one who has sailed a clip per ship, even in fancy, all later modes of ocean carriage must seem decadent. Having written these pages for your enjoyment, I have not burdened them with citations; but, having discovered much sunken historical treasure, and taken of it but spar ingly, I have added some sailing directions and soundings thereto in a bibliography. Therein also, that this preface may be short, I have thanked the many persons who have aided me in the search. But I cannot close without par ticular acknowledgment to Captain Arthur H. Clark, ou thor of The Clipper Ship Era, for bearing with my constant demands on his time, patience, and memory; and to Dr. Octavius T. Howe, who placed freely at my dis posal the results of many years' research on the Argonauts of forty-nine.