86 VOYAGE TO SPITSBERGEN. 



when it was discovered by a ship belonging to Sir 

 Francis Cherry of London. 



The English began the whale fishery at Spitz- 

 bergen immediately after its discovery by Barentz. 

 The nation soon became sensible of the advantages 

 to be derived from this trade, and Parliament gave 

 premiums to the different adventurers. They had 

 a formidable rival to contend with in the Dutch, 

 who long were successful competitors with the Eng- 

 lish in this traffic*. 



In Spitzbergen as well as in Jan Mayen, sailors 

 have been frequently left till winter, from the same 

 motives, and have generally met with the same 

 fate ; some, however, have been more fortunate, and 

 have braved all the rigours of this inhospitable cli- 

 mate. In 1630, eight Englishmen were left here 

 by accident, and, overcoming all the difficulties 

 they were exposed to, by their ingenuity, were next 

 summer found in good health. In 1743, four 

 Russians were left here, and were not relieved till 

 1749, when three of the number were found alive, 

 who had exhausted, as Pennant observes, all the 

 ingenious contrivances related of Robinson Crusoe, 



It is now time to continue the account of there- 



• The Dutch, in the space of forty-six years caught 32,900 

 whales, the oil and whalebone of which sold for about£15,800,00(K' 

 Malte Brun, torn. v. 298. 



