The Skins Of These
Seals Fetched A Very High Price In The China Market; The Chinese,
Especially In The More
Northern parts of that vast and populous empire, use
these skins for various articles of their dress; and the seal
Skins of New
South Shetland being much finer and softer than those which were obtained
in any other part of the world, bore a proportionably higher price in the
China market. But the English could not compete with the Americans in this
lucrative trade; for in consequence of the charter of the East India
Company, the English ships were obliged to bring their cargoes of skins to
England; here they were sold, and as none but the East India Company could
export them to China, and consequently none except the Company would
purchase; they in fact had the monopoly of them, and obtained them at their
own price. The English indeed might take them directly from New South
Shetland to Calcutta, whence they might be exported in country ships to
China; but even in this case, which was not likely to happen, as few
vessels, after having been employed in catching seals off such a boisterous
coast, were prepared or able to undertake a voyage to Calcutta; much
unnecessary expence was incurred, additional risk undergone, and time
consumed. To these disadvantages in the sale of their seal skins, the
Americans were not exposed; they brought them into some of their own ports,
and thence shipped them directly and immediately to China.
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