SANDWICH ISLANDS. [From the Friend, November 1.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 368, 10 February 1849, Page 3

SANDWICH ISLANDS. [From the Friend, November I.]

Yankee Whaling Enterprise. —The American whaling barque Superior, commanded by Capt. Roys, sailed from Sag Harbour, to cruise in the South Atlantic ; but not being successful, Capt. Roys decided to carry out the plan of a voyage which he had been contemplating for several years. This plan embraced a cruise in the Arctic Ocean, through Bhering's Straits. He had collected what information he could in regard to those regions which had hitherto only been visited by such adventurous navigators as Cooke, Clerke, Kotzebue, and Beechy. Capt. Roys informs us that the principal reason which induced him to put away for that ocean, was a remark which he recollected to have iead in Beechy's voyages, viz. :—": —" Off here ue saw a great many black whales, more than I remember ever to have seen, even in Baffin's Bay." This remark is found in Vol. 1., of Beechy's Voyages, page 379, and refers to " Icy Cape," situated in lat. 70* 20 miles, and W. lon. 162*. Capt. Roys has furnished us with the following outline of his cruise in the Arctic Ocean. " I entered the Arctic Ocean about the middle of July, and cruised from continent to continent, going as high as the lat. 70", and saw whales wherever I went, cutting in my last whale on the 22nd of August, and returning through Bhering's Straits on the 28th of the same month. On account of powerful currents, thick fogs, the near vicinity of land and ice, combined with the imperfection of charts and information respecting this region, I found it both difficult and dangerous to get oil, although there are plenty of whales. Hereafter, doubtless, many ships will go there, and I think some provision ought to be made to save the lives of those who go there, bhould they be casi away —they should not be left to perish among the Indians who inhabit those regions." In conversation with Capt. Roys, we have obtained additional information which may not be uninteresting to our readers. During the entire period of his cruise there, no ice was seen, the weather was ordinarily pleasant, so that the men could work in light clothing. In most parts of the ocean there was good anchorage from 14 to 35 fathoms. During a part of the time that the vessel was there, she lay at anchor. The first whale was taken at 12 o'clock at night! It was not difficult "to whale" the whole 24 hours : so light was it, that at midnight it was easy to read in the cabin. The whales were quite tame, but entirely different from any which Capt. Roys had ever before taken. He took three different species, one of the largest yielding 200 barrels of oil.r—The fiist species much resembled the Greenland whale, yielding about 160 or 170 barrels ; the second was a species called Polar whale, a few of which have been taken on the N.W. coast; and the third, a small whale peculiar to that ocean. The last three whales which were taken yielded 600 barrels. The American coast has been explored, surveyed, and found to be inhabited. Capt. Roys discovered that the Asiatic coast was also peopled by numerous Indian tribes, and he expresses the opinion that they are well supplied with valuable furs, that could bfe easily purchased. There are no good charts of the Asiatic coast, unless they are in possession of the Russians. On entering the straits, seven canoes, containing forty men each, were seen crossiug from the American to the Asiatic coast. — There are three small islands situated in the passage, hence iendering it extremely easy for the dwellers on the American and Asiatic continents to pass and repass. Capt. Roys did not hold any communication with the Indians, as his vessel was but partially armed, and in one instance the Indians showed that they were disposed to make him a hostile visit when becalmed, but a favourable breeze springing up soon carried the vessel beyond the of

region danger. New Cruising Ground por Whale Ships. —The success which has attended the Superior's cruise to the Arctic Ocean will undoubtedly stimulate others to follow her adventurous track. By refers ing to the charts, it will appear at favourable seasons, ships may cruise over ten degrees of longitude, and as far north as the 70th degree. As the atten-tion-of the whaling community will now be directed to this part of the ocean, as yet but very partially explored, especially on the Asiatic coast, it will be necessary for cruiseis to exercise great watchfulness and precaution. The charts of that ocean are extremely imperfect. Attached to Beechy's Voyages, published in London, 1831, there is a well executed chart of the American coast from Bhering's Strait to Point Barrow, the most extreme point of land as yet explored, lying in i latitude 71' 20 mm. In the opinion of Capt.! Roys, this chart of Beechy's is the most'ac- i

curate which can be obtained. The ocean doubtless varies very much during different seasons. Some seasons it is much more clear of ice than others. Ships would not probably be much endangered by floating icebergs, from the fact that almost any part of the ocean can be easily sounded.

Domestic. — Whale ships have heen uncommonly successful the past season. The Huntsville is reported to have taken 4200 barrels, including 250 of sperm, and has only been out eleven months. This is the greatest voyage on record — so whalemen report. Several ships have taken over 3000 barrels. One day last week, 41 whale ships and 6 merchant vessels were at anchor in our inner harbour, and 7 or 8 ships in the offing. About 300 foreigners have left the Sandwich Islands for California.