Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

The importance of the American whaling trade in the Pacific is shown by the facts contained in a letter from an officer on board the United States frigate Constitution, written at Talcahuana in March last. He says:
We have about 500 whaling ships employed in this ocean whose tonnage is probably over 150,000, employing 12,900 seamen. This immense fleet is fitted out at home with domestic products, which, in all probability, cost over a million dollars; and this is left with our people, and the fruits of the ocean, after great labor, are taken home to them also. In addition to the whale ships, there are about fifty vessels from various ports in the United States, trading to the Pacific, in other branches of commerce. This is but a bird’s-eye view of our great and growing interests in the Pacific. Does it not merit the watchful care of the Government, and an increased naval force?
This place is a great rendezvous for whale ships;-twenty-three American whale ships have been seen here at one time. We have seen ten American flags flying here at one time. The bay is a beautiful one. The anchorage is good, and is protected from the violence of the sea, and heavy north winds, which blow on the coast of Chili in the winter months by an island lying immediately at the entrance, as the bay opens from the north, and the heavy gales are from the north. Nature seems to have placed this barrier to the sea. The climate is good; wood, water, and provisions can be had here in great abundance. The people are kind and hospitable. Talcabuana is but a small town, being the seaport of the city of Conception, which is distant eight miles inland.-This ill-fated city was about half laid in ruins in 1835 by an earthquake. The population then was ten or twelve thousand; it is now said to be five or six thousand. The terror of the earthquake of 1835 has not left the people yet, and many have removed from the city.