COMPARATIVE VIEW. — BRITAIN. 113 



At length, when the British had become well ac- 

 customed to the whale-fishery, and the trade was to 

 appearance so firmly established as not to be affect- 

 ed by any trivial alteration of the bounties, this 

 emolument was, in December 1792, reduced to 25s., 

 and in 1795, to 20s. per ton, at which rate it has 

 subsequently continued. Some alterations have, 

 however, occasionally taken place in the acts rela- 

 tive to the bounties, and a small duty has been im- 

 posed upon whale-oil, fins, and other produce of the 

 Greenland seas. 



Thus, by means of national support to the 

 whale-fishers in the form of bounty, was effected, 

 what no other incitement was calculated to accom- 

 plish, namely, the establishment of the northern 

 whale-fisheries by British subjects, on a basis so 

 firm, as to secure to the nation every advantage 

 which could be expected from such a trade, in the 

 most permanent way. 



It has been seen that, in point of ability for con- 

 ducting the whale-fishery, the British, in their early 

 attempts, excepting a few of the voyages of the 

 Russia Company's ships, were universally eclipsed 

 by the Dutch ; and that, notwithstanding the Eng- 

 lish led the way to the haunts of the whale in the 

 northern regions, and set the example of capturing 

 this animal as an occupation ; — yet their labours 

 were attended with such ill success, and their exer- 

 tions were in consequence so much relaxed, that 



VOL. II. H 



