THE DUTCH WHALERS PREDOMINANT 137 



The whalers, until the Bounty system was 

 introduced, had to rely solely on their own energy 

 and initiative. There was never any code of 

 regulation for the whaling at all comparable to the 

 code for the herring fishery. 



Nevertheless, the herring fishery was the first to 

 decline ; the whaling continued to flourish long after 

 there was an unmistakable decline in the former 

 fishery. During the wars which were so frequent 

 at this time the herring fleet, which fished the North 

 Sea, was far more liable to attack by privateers than 

 the whalers in the distant waters at Spitsbergen. 

 In fact, the latter were only liable to attack on the 

 outward or homeward journey, particularly the 

 latter. For their protection during these voyages 

 the convoy system was adopted. 1 



The war with England in 1652-4 was prejudicial 

 to the " Greenland " trade. In April, 1652, before 

 hostilities commenced, the Dutch resolved to con- 

 tinue in the whaling during the coming season, and 

 took steps to secure the supply of able seamen. In 

 July the advisability of calling home the whaling fleet 

 was considered, but for the time the Dutch Govern- 

 ment warned the whalers to keep together for safety. 



Although it appears that the whaling was kept 

 going in 1652, it was forbidden the following year, 2 



1 Rapport van de Raadpensionaris van de bedenking der 

 Generaliteit om de geheele visscherije op te ontbieden, van haar 

 neering tot preservatie hunner apparente schaade en ruine door 

 de engelsche vloot; ook de Groenlandsvaarders adverteeren, haar 

 bij form van admiraalschepen te voegen om de gedreygde 

 swaarigheid te ontgaan, 21 July, 1652. 



3 Waerschouwinge ende verboth, waerby omme pregnante 



