EARLY HISTORY OF WHALING 95 



Desire ; the Annula ; the Richard and Barnard ; 

 with the John and Francis, to follow. In all 

 expeditions consisting of more than two vessels, one 

 was appointed to lead, the " Admiral," the other to 

 look out astern, the " Vice- Admiral." By day the 

 Admira! carried a signal and by night a distinguishing 

 light. The officer in command of the fleet was the 

 General, and he sailed in the Admiral. The second 

 in command was the Lieutenant-General, he sailed 

 in the Vice-Admiral. Both of these officers had 

 letters patent from the Sovereign, authorising them 

 to enforce martial law. The journal of this voyage 

 was kept by the famous William Baffin, who after- 

 wards (in 1615) went as pilot of the Discovery in 

 search of the north-west passage. 



Hearing that a number of foreign ships were 

 fitting out for the fishery, the Company took the 

 precaution of applying for a Royal Charter from 

 King James, to exclude all others, natives and 

 foreigners, from participating in the fishery. It was 

 urged that the industry would be highly beneficial 

 to the country, since every hundred pounds 

 adventured brought trade estimated at five hundred 

 pounds. The claim was based on the right of first 

 discovery and the advantageous character of the 

 occupation. 1 The petition was accepted and a 

 grant embodying the views of the company made on 

 the 1 3th March, 1613. 



This year the Company's ships were under the 



1 " The Humble Petition and Remonstrance of the English 

 Merchants for the Discovery of New Trades," Lands, MSS. 

 No. 142, f. 301. 



