126 APPENDIX. 



From this period the Dutch whale-fishery ra- 

 pidly declined, and was at length totally annihilat- 

 ed during the late war. 



English Whale Fishery. — The English Whale 

 Fishery, like that of Holland, was originally carried 

 on by an exclusive company. The first association 

 of merchants for this purpose was soon dissolved ; 

 but, owing to successive grants of the same kind, 

 the trade continued fettered for a considerable pe- 

 riod posterior to the Revolution. During this 

 time, it was, as might have been expected, carried 

 on with almost no success. — In 1724, the South 

 Sea Company embarked largely in this depart- 

 ment of industry ; but, having, in the course of 

 eight years, incurred an immense loss, they were 

 glad to abandon it. In 1738, the government be- 

 ing determined to encourage this fishery, a boun- 

 ty of 20s. per ton was granted to all ships of 200 

 tons and upwards, employed therein ; as this 

 bounty, however, was found insufficient, in 1749 

 it was doubled. This extraordinary encourage- 

 ment, by factitiously determining a portion of 

 the national capital into this channel, had at 

 last a considerable effect ; but a long time elap- 

 sed ere the English could, even with these superior 

 advantages, successfully compete with the Dutch. 

 Since this epoch many alterations have been 



