THE DUTCH WHALERS PREDOMINANT 125 



In 1633 the Dutch fleet left Spitsbergen on 

 the 3Oth August, 1 and Jan May en on the 26th 

 August. 2 In 1634 they left Spitsbergen on the 

 ist September, 3 but generally they left about the 

 middle of August. 



At this time the Spitsbergen harbours were shared 

 between the different nations engaged in the whale 

 fisheries. 



The English, Dutch, French, and Danes each 

 had their own harbour, where the oil was prepared 

 and the fins cleaned. In the huts the superfluous 

 gear, such as spare boats, were laid up for the 

 winter. 



The division of the bays was a source of much 

 trouble. In the first instance the English made an 

 exclusive claim to all the bays and harbours, and, in 

 any case, being the first at the fisheries, they had 

 naturally seized the best fishing places. Reference 

 has already been made (p. 112) to the proposals of 

 the Dutch negotiators in the winter of 1618-19. The 

 different nations frequented selected localities to 

 which they gradually -acquired a sort of prescriptive 

 right. 



The English claimed from Crosse Roade and 

 Deere Sound right down to Home Sound. There 

 were English huts (at that time called tents) at the 

 north end of Foreland Sound at both sides, in 

 Greene Harbour, Bell Sound, and on the south 

 shore of Horn Sound. The Dutch occupied 



1 Van der Brug-ge. Journal, Hakl. Soc. t 1904, p. 87. 

 3 Van der Brugge. Twee fournalen, p. 3. 

 ' Ibid., p. 22 



