A. D. 1617. 287 



ilaves, hides, oftrich-feathers, bees-wax, gum, fencgal, (a very ufeful 

 article) millet, an)bergris, &c. 



This year the quarrels at Spitzbergeii about the whale-fifhing ran very 

 high between the Englifh and Dutch, the former feizing on part of their 

 oil : and this is the firfl: time we find mention of fins or whalebone be- 

 ing brought home with the blubber or oil ; although probably before 

 this time it came into ufe for women's ftays, 8cc. by means of the Bif- 

 cay whale-fifhers. 



161 8 — In the next year King James (as king of Scotland) incorpo- 

 rated a number of Englifh, Scots, and Zealanders, to be a new company 

 to fifh at Spitzbergen ; and much fhipping, provifions, &c. were con- 

 traded for : yet, after all their preparations, this Scottifh patent was 

 annulled ; and it was agreed, that the Eaft-India adventurers fliould flill 

 join flock with the Ruflia company, and be one joint company for the 

 whale-fifhery. Thirteen fliips were thereupon fent thither; but the Zea- 

 landers proving fuperior there, and being exafperated at the felzure of 

 iheir oil, &c. laft year, and their difappointment by refcinding the 

 Scottifli patent, attacked, overpowered, rifled, and difperfed the Englifti 

 fliips ; mod of which returned home empty. 



The method of managing the whale-fifliing of both nations was then 

 quite different from what it is in our days. The whales in thofe early 

 times having never been difturbed, (fay our voyagers) refortcd to the 

 bays near the fhore, whereby their blubber was eafily landed at Spitz- 

 bergen, where they erecfted cookeries (i. e. coppers, &c.) for boiling 

 their oil, which they left (landing from year to year, and only brought 

 home the purified oil and the whalebone. The Englifh having been the 

 firfl in that fifhery, kept pofTeffion of the bed bays. The Dutch, com- 

 ing later, were obliged to find bays farther north : yet the Danes, who 

 came later into this trade than the Dutch, got in between the Englifli 

 and Dutch. The Hamburghers came after the Danes ; and afcer them 

 came the French, and alfo the Bifcayners, who, though older whale- 

 fifliers than any in Europe, except the Norwegians, had not however 

 fallen into this method, but by the example of England and the reft, 

 and who were forced to fet up their cookeries flill farther off. But fince 

 thofe times che vi'hales are lefs frequent in the bays, and are moft com- 

 monly among the openings of the ice farther from land, which obliges 

 •the fhips to follow them thither. So that the blubber is now cut from 

 the whales in fmall pieces at the fhip's fide, and brought home in cafks 

 to be boiled and purified, and the whale fins alfo to be cleaned. This 

 later method, however, of fiihing being often found dangerous and 

 perilous tO fliipping, difcouraged our Englilh adventurers, who then 

 traded in a company, fo that they foon after relinquifhcd that fifhery, 

 and fo it rem.ained till the reign of King Charles II. 



