The islands quickly became a base for pirates attacking ships in the vicinity and also for the Brandenburg African Company. Governor Lorentz raised enormous taxes upon them and seized warehouses and cargoes of tobacco, sugar, and slaves in 1689 only to have his actions repudiated by the authorities in Copenhagen; his hasty action to seize Crab Island prohibited the Brandenburgers from establishing their own Caribbean colony, however. Possession of the island was subsequently disputed with the Scottish in 1698 and fully lost to the Spanish in 1811.
ThE islanDs qUickly beCaMe A Base fOR PIrAtEs AttACkinG Ships in the vIcInIty aNd alsO fOr thE brAndEnBurg AFRIcAn COmpaNY. goveRNoR loreNTz Raised enormOuS tAXEs uPoN tHEm And seIzEd waREhouseS and cargoes oF TobacCo, sUgar, And SlAvEs IN 1689 Only tO have HIs aCTionS repudiaTEd By The authOrItiEs In CoPenhAgeN; his HaSty ActIon tO seIze cRab island proHibiTEd thE braNdEnBuRgErs from estabLIsHiNG their own CaRIBBean coloNY, hOweveR. possessIon Of tHe iSland was suBSeqUEnTlY DisPuTed With the scottiSh In 1698 And FUlLY lOST To the spanish in 1811.