38 WHALE-FISHERY. 



being less encumbered with ice than many others, they 

 took possession of for their fishing station, and nam- 

 ed it after their native city. 



Lastly, The Spaniards and French, though among 

 the earliest visitors to Spitzbergen, found, on their 

 arrival, in the year when the division was made, all 

 the bays on the coast already disposed of and occu- 

 pied ; they therefore fixed themselves in an unclaim- 

 ed situation, on the northern face of Spitzbergen. 



Thus we perceive the origin of the names of the 

 different places called English Bay and English 

 Harbour, Hollanders Bay and Amsterdam Island, 

 Danes Island and Danes Bay, Hamburghers Bay, 

 Biscayners Point *, ^c. 



These arrangements having been adopted, the 

 fishery was subsequently carried on with greater 

 hannony. Each nation prosecuted the fishery ex- 

 clusively in its own possession, or along the sea- 

 coast, which was free for all. It was understood, 

 however, that the ships of any nation might resort 

 to any of the bays or harbours whatever, for the 

 convenience of awaiting a favourable wind, taking 

 refuge from a storm, or any other emergency ; the 

 prosecution of the fishery in the bays belonging to 

 other nations, being alone prohibited. The better 

 to secure the fulfilment of this part of the ar- 



* Anderson's Commerce, a, d. 1618; also Beschryving der 

 Walvisvangst, vol. i. p. 5, & 26. 



