Whaleman’s shipping paper

Whaleman’s shipping paper

American whalers usually came to New Zealand from New England, especially from Nantucket Island and New Bedford, Massachusetts. This document is an agreement signed by the crew of a New Bedford whaler, Jasper, bound for New Zealand in 1835. The men would expect to be away for three years, and would take a share of the proceeds, ranging from 1/18th for the master to 1/240th for the boy.