ABSTRACT
Torecountalltheins-and-outsofthiscontroversywould betoolengthyastoryforthisplace.Ihavewrittenitin a"HistoryofSpitsbergen,"whichIhopetopublishsome day.Thecauseofallthetroublewasreallythesoapmakers,whoneededtrain-oilfortheirmanufacture.The
soapersofYorkdependedontheHullwhalers.The whalersofYarmouthsuppliedthesoapersofScotland.
TheMuscovyCompanywantedtocontrolboththeScotch andYorkmarkets.Thisdisputewasreallythecausefor thedeclineoftheindustryofwhalinginEngland.While theDutchCompanykeptenlargi~gitssizeandtakingin n1oreandmorepartnersfrommaritimetowns,theattempt successfullymadebytheMuscovyCompanywastokeep competitorsoutofthetrade,whilstalsorefusingthem admissiontotheirownCompany.Theythuskeptdown thenumberofEnglishwhalers,whilsttheDutchfleet increasedinsize,andDutchwhalersimprovedinefficiency, andgrewinnumbersfromyeartoyear.
