Whaling offered high profits, but English crews were difficult to recruit. Experienced whalers came largely from northern Europe, including Scandinavia. The 1673 change reduced the required English share of a whaling crew to 50 percent. Long voyages could keep sailors away from home for a year or two, making them unavailable when the government needed naval manpower. Mixed crews allowed more whalers to sail from the same English labour pool. Retaining a substantial English contingent was also meant to reduce the danger of foreign crew members seizing a vessel during wartime.
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Why whalers could use fewer English sailors
A 50 percent English crew requirement helped recruit experienced whalers while limiting the number of English sailors tied up on long voyages.