[Gutenberg 8647] • Afloat and Ashore: A Sea Tale

Excerpt from Works of J. Fenimore Cooper, Vol. 4 of 10: The Sea Lions; Afloat and Ashore; The Water Witch

Although it has actually more sea-coast than all the rest of New York united, Suf folk has but one seaport that is ever men tioned beyond the limits of the county itself. Nor is this port one of general commerce, its shipping being principally employed in the hardy and manly occupa tion of whaling. As a whaling town, Sag Harbor is the third or fourth port in the country, and maintains something like that rank in importance. A whaling haven is nothing without a. Whaling com munity. Without the last it is almost hopeless to look for success. New York can, and has often fitted whalers for sea, having sought officers in the regular whaling ports; but it has been seldom that the enterprises have been rewarded with such returns as to induce a second voyage by the same parties.

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