178 WIIALE-FISHERV. 



it, and retained it tenaciously for its owil use. As 

 a place of resort, however, for escaping a storm, a 

 contrary wind, or any other especial convenience, 

 save that of fishing, the harbours were open to 

 all. 



So long as the whales resorted to the bays of 

 Spitzbergen in sufficient abundance, the method of 

 fishing first adopted, continued to be practised ; but 

 when the trade increased, and the annoyance to 

 their species became so very great that they took 

 the alarm and gradually receded from their fa- 

 vourite haunts, a suitable change in the fishery 

 was requisite. For twenty years after the com- 

 mencement of the Spitzbergen fishery, the trade was 

 in its most flourishing state ; the fish were nume- 

 rous and unwary, and the adventurers seldom failed 

 to fulfil the intentions of the voyage, by procuring 

 ample cargoes. The fish seem to have become 

 scarce in the bays about the years 1630 to 1640 ; 

 upon which, the fishery fi-equently failed, and the 

 Dutch companies were subjected to such heavy 

 losses, that their great profits of former years were 

 almost swallowed up *. Still, however, the whales 

 were occasionally found in plenty, in particular 

 places along the coast, or on particular banks, where 

 some skilful and active individuals, made very pro- 

 fitable voyages f. So long as the whales remained 



* Histoire des Peches, vol. i. p. 307. 

 t Beschryvingj &c. vol. i. p. 31. 



