Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
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A map was made in 1632 by Thomas James of Bristol, when searching for another route to the spices, there by not kowtowing to The Spanish and Portuguese, and other strange characters trading. Another Map was drawn in 1597 by the Dutch.
The seas were cod infested, Herrings and the walrus had first dibs. Flax, furs and timber were good for trading. Russia suffered from blackmailing from the Baltic lands so needed this port for commerce and freedom of political pressure.
It sits on the Artic Circle in a bay known as Mare Album at the mouth of Northern Drina river.
A nice 1894 painting that gives a feel of the place:
http://www.abcgallery.com/K/korovin/korovin102.html