230 WlIALE-FISHEliy. 



vessel saving the stores would suffer a loss equal to 

 the value restored to the owners of the wreck. 



Now, if it were really the case, that a small salvage 

 only could he legally claimed by the savers of 

 WTecked stores, which would have the effect of pre- 

 venting any stores whatever from being saved, it 

 would be an impolitic law, because the leaving of 

 goods in Greenland is absolutely a national loss ; but 

 if, on the other hand, it should appear that, by the 

 enacting of an express law offering a larger salvage 

 than is usual, the preceding objections would be ob- 

 viated, and the quantity of stores saved from wrecks 

 increased, — then would it become an object worthy 

 of legislative interference, especially if to a national 

 advantage should be added that of an equitable ar- 

 rangement in the distribution of property. Sup- 

 posing, for instance, the salvage established by law 

 were to be one-half on all fishing-stores, and other 

 materials belonging to wrecks, but two-thirds, or 

 even three-fourths, on the cargoes of wrecks, it 

 might answer tlie desired end. It would, at any 

 rate, obviate an existing fear of controversy, which 

 induces some owners to give positive orders to their 

 captains, to take no wrecked stores on board. Sub- 

 stituting the above salvage, then, instead of a re- 

 gular one-third, or even less, I conceive the abstract 

 of Dutch lav/s already before the reader, v/ould, on 

 the whole, be admirably adapted to the present 

 circumstances of the fishery. Articles iO. and 11, 



