150 WHALE-I TSHEllY. 



venturers, and of riches to the State. The national 

 benefit, it is true, has always been diminished by 

 part of the money expended in stores for the equip- 

 ment of the fishing ships, being paid to strangers 

 for foreign produce ; but the greater proportion of 

 the expenditure reverted to the benefit of the State, 

 by being paid for articles which were the produce 

 of the country, and for wages to various artificers 

 and labourers, who procured an ample livelihood in 

 manufacturing the foieign produce into stores pro- 

 per for the outfit of the fleet. 



Zorgdrager, whose authority is highly respected 

 by his countrymen, estimates the expeuce of fitting 

 a sliip with six boats and all other stores requisite 

 for the whale-fishery, at 4924 florins 17 sols. His 

 calculation is as follows : 



For casks, - • 2370/ 



Boats and all other stores, - 2554 



• 4924/ 



Wages of 42 men for the voyage, - 3000 

 Hire of the ship and insurance, - 3000 



Provisions for the voyage, - 1523 



Sum total of advances for a whale-fish- 

 ing ship, - _ _ 12447* 



* Histoire des Peches, vol. i. p. 279- This estimation being- 

 made for a liired ship^ might be expected to admit of the de- 

 duction of the owner's profits, when the calculation is applied 

 tasuch ships as are the property of tiie adventurers. 



