the island was perfectly situated to take advantage of Boston's promising marketplace. The Nantucketers invited an experienced native of Cape Cod named Ichabod Paddock to help establish what wa to become the first national fishery.
             Initially, there was an abundant supply of whales close to shore and look-outs were posted on the eastern shores of the island. At the height of on-shore hunting in 1726, eighty-six whales were taken in one season alone, with the record catch of eleven in one day! Endless hunting decreased. For the Nantucketer, whaling beacame a way of life and for the remainder of the 18th century, Nantucket was known to have the largest whaling fleet anyw
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