150 
MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
sealing voyage in the Okhotsk Sea. The captain was a veteran in the business, and 
many thought him too old to command, but the result of the voyage proved him 
equal to the task. The vessel proceeded to Robin Island — a mere volcanic rock, 
situated on the eastern side of the large island of Saghalien. Many outlying rocks 
and reefs are about it, making it dangerous to approach, and affording but slight 
shelter for an anchorage. Here the vessel (of about three hundred tons) lay, with 
ground -tackle of the weight for a craft of twice her size. Much of the time 
fresh winds prevailed, accompanied by the usual ugly ground -swell ; and, in conse- 
quence of her being long, low, and sharp, the deck was at such times frequently 
flooded; nevertheless, she "rode out the whole season, though wet as a half- tide 
rock," and a valuable cargo of skins was procured, which brought an unusually 
most judicious policy, to select the greatest pro- 
portion of them from the New England States. 
Having obtained the number of hands required 
for the Betsey, on the 13th day of June, 1797, 
the vessel was got under way, and proceeded to 
sea, from Stonington, Connecticut. "When off 
"Watch -hill Point, (situated about nine leagues 
to the northward of Montague Light, on the 
east end of Long Island) she' was brought to, 
in order to discharge the pilot, and the occasion 
was embraced, as the best suited to ascertain 
the minds and inclinations of the seamen. All 
hands were therefore mustered on deck, aft, and 
liberty was given to all such as were disinclined 
to proceed on the voyage — to all those who were 
unwilling to encounter the dangers, privations, 
and sufferings, usually attendant on similar ex- 
peditions — now to return with the pilot. Not- 
withstanding this, no one seemed so inclined, 
but all, to a man, answered, their desire was to 
proceed on the voyage, confirming the same by 
three hearty cheers. And here it may be re- 
marked, that a more orderly and cheerful crew 
never sailed round the world in any vessel. The 
pilot accordingly returned by himself. At six 
p.m. we took our departure from Block Island, 
with a fine breeze from the southwest." On 
their passage to the Cape de Verde Islands, as 
related on the ship's log, "At four p.m. fell in 
with a mast ; sent the boat to tow it alongside ; 
hoisted it on deck, to be made to answer any 
rjurpose that future emergency might require." 
"While on the passage to the Cape de Verdes, 
by the expressed wish and counsel of the offi- 
cers, it was thought advisable to alter the rig of 
the Betsey, and change her into a ship. This, 
it was supposed, and afterward ascertained to 
be the fact, would be greatly to our advantage ; 
for while laying off and on at the seal islands, 
to procure our cargo of Fur Seal skins, the 
cabin-boy alone could tend and work a mizzen- 
topsail, who certainly would be altogether unable 
to do anything with the heavy boom of a brig's 
fore-and-aft mainsail. At this place th^alter- 
ation was carried into effect; the mizz^pnast, 
top, spars, rigging, sails, etc., were already in 
readiness, and the armorer, at his forge erected 
on shore, forged and made the chains and all 
the other requisite iron -work, so that the mast 
was stepped, sails bent, and the Betsey rigged 
into a ship all ready for sea, in five days' time. 
This was accomplished without one dollar extra 
expense to the owners." The Betsey, having ob- 
tained supplies at the Cape de Verdes, sailed 
on the 23d day of July, 1797, for the Falkland 
Islands, where she arrived October 19th of the 
same year. Not finding Fur Seals there in any 
considerable numbers, it was decided to double 
Cape Horn and make the best of their way to 
the Island of Masafuero ; accordingly they sailed 
