EARLY HISTORY OF WHALING 107 



hundred tons of oil, " beside the blubber left for want 

 of caske." 



In 1618 the Dutch made another determined 

 attempt to wipe off old scores, and since the Muscovy 

 Company were heartened by the great success of the 

 previous year it looked as if there were to be lively 

 times at the whale fisheries. 



The Muscovy Company and Sir James Cunning- 

 ham's Company joined forces, the East India 

 Company promising the former a loan of one hundred 

 thousand roubles on condition that the whale 

 fisheries should be carried on jointly 1 for eight 

 years. According to Edge this put the Muscovy 

 Company to great trouble and cost " in taking of all 

 the provisions they had bespoken, and paying ready 

 money for the same, having no use thereof, but 

 great part spoyled, and came to little good." There 

 can, however, be little doubt that the Muscovy 

 Company were now hard up, since they were com- 

 pelled to borrow money from persons not free of the 

 Company. Ultimately, thirteen ships and two 

 pinasses were sent forth again under the command 

 of Captain Edge. The Dutch were represented by 

 twenty-three well-appointed ships, who commenced 

 to fish alongside the English, setting two boats to 

 the English one, " with a full purpose to drive the 

 English from their Harbours, and to revenge the 

 injurie (as they termed it) done them the yeere 

 before." 



A letter from Master Robert Salmon dated Sir 



1 State Papers, Domestic, James I., xcviii., 2, 9. 



