176
The Natural Hiſtory
This Trade brought at firſt great Profit.briſker than at preſent, and much more profitable; for foreign Traders flocking thither in great Numbers, have ſo overſtock'd them with Goods, and underſold one another, to draw the Natives to them from others, that the Trade is conſiderably ſlackened and fallen. Yet I truſt, that, if we once became Maſters of this Trade, as it in Juſtice belongs to us, by the Right the King of Denmark lawfully claims to theſe Countries as much as to any Kingdom or Province ſubject to him; I truſt, that, with this Proviſo, the Trade to Greenland would provde as profitable, as any other whatſoever. Which has been evidenced not long ago; when by his Majeſty's ſpecial Order Foreign Trade has been prohibited within a certain Diſtance on each Side of the Colonies. Greenland Commodities as precious as thoſe of Iceland and Fero.For if the landing of ſome Ships with Fiſh and Train from Fin-Mark, and others of Fiſh, Train, Salt-Meat and Butter from Iceland and Fero bring to the Traders conſiderable Profit: Who would Queſtion, but the ſame or better Advantage may be expected from the importing Quantities of Whale-Train, Whale-
Bones,
