46 WHALE-FISHERY. 



and Zealand Companies were the more willing to 

 incorporate the Frieslanders along with them, from 

 the hope, that this nnion would effectually prevent 

 any other towns from joining in the trade. In this, 

 hoAvevcr, they were disappointed ; for, at the solici- 

 tation of different persons, it was found necessary to 

 allow all who were in readiness within a certain li- 

 mited time, to unite themselves with the concern. 

 For the use of these additional adventurers, the 

 ancient companies appropriated a part of their posses- 

 sion, lying in the South Bay on the Main, where 

 the Haarlingers erected their boiling-house*. 



^A^hile the Dutch followed the whale-fishery 

 vv'ith perseverance and profit, they were successfully 

 imitated by the Hamburghers and other fishermen 

 of the Elbe, but the English made only occasional 

 voyages. Sometimes tlie Russia Company sent 

 out ships, at others, private individuals belonging 

 to London, but more frequently the merchants of 

 Hull embarked their property in the Spitzbergen 

 trade. 



About this period, when the fishery was chiefly 

 pursued in the very bays where the ships lay at their 

 moorings, it was found a matter of convenience and 

 dispatch, to erpct various buildings for the accommo- 

 dation of the coopers employed in making and repair- 

 ing caslcs, and for the seamen who were engaged in re- 



* Ecschryviiicr dcr Walvisvangst, vol. i. ji. I7. 



