821 WHALE-FISHERY. 



The superiority of tlie Dutch, in point of num- 

 bers, pre^ented open broils in (ireenland, during 

 two or three years ; but the spirit of jealousy still 

 existed, and again burst fortli. Captain Edge, 

 who liad under ]iis direction tlic wliole of tlie Green- 

 land fleet, went on board of a Dutcli ship, which 

 he met in the country, and sliowing him tlie King's 

 commission, ordered the captain to depart, telling 

 him to inform his comrades, that if he met any of 

 them on the coast, he should take from them what- 

 ever fishing they had made. Kdge treated the 

 captain courteously and then allowed him to de- 

 part, on his promising to seek two of his companions 

 and return home ; in place of vvhich, however, meet- 

 ing with a Hidl fisher, he v.as induced to return back 

 and commence the fishing in Horn Sound. Edge. 

 on hearing this, sent his Vice-Admiral to attack 

 them, and take the produce of their fishing from 

 them ; but before he arrived, the Zcalanders being 

 aware of liis approach, freighted two ships and sent 

 them off', leaving one ship with some casks of blub- 

 ber, and two whales and a half unflenched. The 

 blubber was seized, togetlier witli the cannon and 

 ammunition in the ship, to prevent reprisals on any 

 of the Englidi fleet, which the Zealander, being well 

 armed, threatened. This blubber, however, proved 

 a prize of little or no ^•aluc to the English, as they 

 had already procured more blubber anjl fins than 



