The whaling industry went into decline after the [[Pennsylvania oil rush|1859 discovery of petroleum]] in Pennsylvania. Each decade since thenthenceforth saw a gradual decrease in whaling work, activity, and revenue. During the Civil War, the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] engaged in [[commerce raiding]] with ships such as the [[CSS Alabama|''Alabama'']], the [[CSS Florida (cruiser)|''Florida'']], and the [[CSS Shenandoah|''Shenandoah'']], trying to attack the [[Whaling in the United States|Yankee whaling industry]] and sabotage the US economy.<ref name="Yankee Whaling">{{Cite web|url=https://www.whalingmuseum.org/learn/research-topics/overview-of-north-american-whaling/american-whaling|title=Yankee Whaling|website=New Bedford Whaling Museum|language=en|access-date=February 15, 2020|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215013609/https://www.whalingmuseum.org/learn/research-topics/overview-of-north-american-whaling/american-whaling|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the US federal government bought several inactive [[whaler]]s, filled them with stones, sand, and dirt, and towed them to [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], South Carolina, where the [[Union Navy]] sank what became known as the [[Stone Fleet]] in an unsuccessful attempt to blockade the Confederate bay.<ref name="Yankee Whaling"/> Along with the poor business and low whale populations, this dealt a potent blow to a failing industry.
