1697-1703.] CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY. 63 



low, hides and horns of which were allowed them 

 as a perquisite, and left their boats to seek whales 

 where few, if any, were to be found. 



3. The blubber they happened to take home, was 

 slovenly and wastefully managed in boiling, and the 

 fins were ill cleaned : hence, when their goocfe were 

 offered for sale, they fetched only an inferior price. 



4. Their lines and fishing instruments were in- 

 jured or spoiled, for want of care, and many arti- 

 cles embezzled ; whereby the company was repeat- 

 edly put to the expence of renewing them. 



5. They fitted their ships extravagantly ; paid 

 an exorbitant price for their boats and fishing ap- 

 paratus ; and paid great sums for incidentals, much 

 of which might have been saved. 



6. The last ship they sent out was unfortunately 

 wrecked in the ice, after a successful fishery, having 

 taken eleven whales ; — a misfortune which accele- 

 rated the ruin, and increased the mortification of 

 the company, insomuch that they were discouraged 

 from persevering any longer *. 



The direct importation of Greenland produce 

 into England being inconsiderable, its importation 

 from Holland, or other foreign states, was permit- 

 ted ; whalebone, however, was required to be brought 

 into the country in fins only, and not cut, or in 



* Elking's View, &c. p. 46. 



