Kōrero: Whaling

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.