14S WHALE-FISHERY". 



measures of retrenchment, since their former profits, 

 abundant as they undoubtedly had been, were 

 in a great measure swallowed up by subsequent 

 losses. Presuming, it seems, on their former suc- 

 cess, they neglected to adapt their expenditure to 

 the then altered and particular state of the fishery. 

 This period of general loss, consisting only of a few 

 years, is comprised in the second era *. 



The third era of the Dutch fishery, is distinguish- 

 ed by the adoption of that system of frugality, 

 through which, in combination with the exercise of 

 natural talent, they were enabled to prosecute the 

 fishery with a splendour and advantage, which 

 excited the admiration of all the commercial na- 

 tions of Europe. The chief improvements and pe- 

 culiarities in the new system are said to have con- 

 sisted of two measures. 



First, The number of men and quantity of stores 

 required for ships of different dimensions, were ad- 

 justed with careful minuteness, whereby prior re- 

 dundancies were detected and discontinued. 



Second, The trades-people supplied the ships with 

 stores on the principle of bottomry f ; that is, the 

 baker, brewer, sailmaker, ropemaker, cooper, and 



* Forster, in his History of Voyages and Discoveries in the 

 North, mentions that the fishery was in the fuhiess of its 

 splendour, from l6l4 to l641, (p. 426.) And B. de Reste, hi 

 the " Histoire des Peches/' observes, that it was in its most 

 flourishing state about the year l630, (torn. i. p. 276-) 



t Macpherson's Annals of Commerce, vol, iii. p. 19^^- 



