In "Famous First Facts A Record of First Happening, Discovery and
Invention in the United States," by Joseph Nathan Kane (c)1973 3rd
Edition, The H.W. Wilson Company, NY 1964) it's stated that the first
"Whaling (systematic)" began in Southampton, Long Island, New York on
March 7, 1644. Has anyone heard of earlier dates? Of course it might
be hard to get dates from the Shinnecock archaeology finds, currently
said, many to be under America's first golf course (said to be 12
holes in Scotsman newspaper online). It might be difficult to
ascertain as the same reference has the first "Historical Society" the
American Historical Association founded Sept. 10, 1884, in Saratoga
Springs, NY. Would welcome counter dates.

George Myers