1779. THE PACIFIC 0CEAK. £53 



thermometer in July was once at 28°, and very com- 

 monly at 30° \ whereas the last year, in August, 

 it was very rare to have it so low as the freezing 

 point. 



In both seasons we had some high winds, all of 

 which came from the south-west. We were subject 

 to fogs whenever the wind was moderate, from what- 

 ever quarter, but they attended southerly winds more 

 constantly than contrary ones. 



The straits between the two continents, at their 

 nearest approach, in latitude 66°, were ascertained to 

 be thirteen leagues, beyond which they diverge to 

 N. E. by E. and W. N. W. ; and in latitude 69°, they 

 become 14° of longitude or about one hundred leagues 

 asunder. A great similarity is observable in the ap- 

 pearance of the two countries to the northward of 

 the straits. Both are destitute of wood. The shores 

 are low, with mountains rising to a great height far- 

 ther up the country. The depth of water in the 

 mid-way between them was twenty-nine and thirty 

 fathoms, decreasing gradually as we approached 

 either continent, with the difference of being some- 

 what shoaler on the American than on the Asiatic 

 coast, at the same distance from land. The bottom 

 in the middle was a soft slimy mud ; and on drawing 

 near to either shore, a brown sand, intermixed with 

 small fragments of bones, and a few shells. We ob- 

 served but little tide or current ; what there was 

 came from the westward. 



But it is now time to resume the narrative of our 

 voyage, which was broken off on the 31st of July, 

 on which day at noon we had advanced eighteen 

 leagues to the southward of the East Cape. 



We had light airs from the south-west till noon of 

 the 1st of August, at which time our latitude, by 

 observation, was 64° c 23\ longitude 189° Id ', the 

 coast of Asia, extended from north-west by west to 

 west half south, distant about twelve leagues j and 

 the land to the eastward of St. Laurence bore south 



