THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY. 
265 
mark, we gave ourselves little anxiety about the needed supply, should we be 
unavoidably detained in the lagoon. 
All being in readiness, we took advantage of a light morning air to work 
down toward the bar; but the fresh sea-breeze soon after setting in, compelled us 
to anchor ; and a tedious week was passed before we readied the sandy heads of 
the estuary. The change of the moon brought with it adverse gales from the 
north-west, and an accompanying heavy sea, which broke "feather -white" seaward, 
as far as the eye could discern from the mast-head, precluded all attempts, during 
such weather, to pass the bar and work the vessels across the open bay of San 
Sebastian Viseaino, to Cerros Island. Day after day we anxiously watched for a 
favorable change ; but two weeks passed away before the wind moderated. Mean- 
while, our supply of water had become so reduced, as to compel us to put all 
hands on an allowance of one pint a day. As soon as the gale had settled into 
a strong breeze, we at once made every effort to get to sea, even under shortened 
sail. The brig and tender, having laid at anchor for months, became very foul, 
and for this reason made their way at a snail's pace through the breakers that 
still surrounded us, and while the vessels were passing over the shallow water, 
their keels stirred the sandy bottom, so that their wakes were whitened for a long 
distance astern. At last we passed the bar, and felt that we were once more at 
sea, or, at least, clear of the shoals, which presented a forbidding barrier to the 
ingress or egress of those inland waters ; but, as night approached, the wind again 
increased to a gale, and a heavy, breaking sea continually washed over the vessels, 
from stem to taffrail. Early the following morning, we were well up to the 
watering-place at Cerros ; but nearly the whole day was spent before we gained 
the anchorage, and we had barely time to make all snug before the gale burst 
upon us with increased fury, and continued for two days. As soon as it abated, a 
boat was dispatched for an immediate supply of water. Here we remained for 
several clays, employed in recleaning ship and in obtaining wood and water, after 
which we set sail for San Francisco, where we arrived in due time, with the 
vessel so deeply laden that her scuppers were washed by the rippling tide. Thus 
ended a voyage which in no small degree was a novel one. 
LAGOON -WHALING INCIDENTS. 
The following season found us again in the lagoon, with a little squadron of 
vessels, consisting of one bark and two small schooners. Although this newly 
discovered whaling -ground was difficult of approach, and but very little known 
Marine Mammals.— 34. 
