60 WHALE-FISHERY. 



to 82,000/*. In the mean time, the Parliament 

 exempted all their importations from every custom, 

 duty, or imposition whatever f. Notwithstanding, 

 this company, from their great capital, the indul- 

 gence of engaging so many foreign seamen skilled 

 in the fishery, and other privileges, had every ap- 

 parent chance of pursuing the trade with the best 

 eflPect, especially when it is known, that at this pe- 

 riod the whales were yet occasionally met with in 

 great plenty ; yet, from various losses, combined pro- 

 bably with unskilful management, they were so un- 

 fortunate, that some time before the conclusion of 

 their term, their whole capital of 82,000/. was ex- 

 pended |. This amazing loss, together with former 

 failures, so intimidated other persons from embarking 

 in so hazardous a speculation, that even the exten- 

 sion of all the privileges of the chartered company, 

 together with a free trade to all adventurers ^, were 

 not sufficient, for a length of time, to encoui'age the 



* Anderson's History of Commerce, a. d.'1696. Elking, in 

 his View of the Greenland Trade, 2d edit.. Introduction, im- 

 plies, that 45,000 1, of this subscription only was paid. 



t 7th & 8th Gul. III. c. 33. 



X Anderson's History of Commerce, A. D. I696. 



§ 1st Anne, c. l6. § 1. 



