HOMEWARD BOUND. 91 



fathoms, lat. 50° 44' S., long. 97° 20' W. At 8.40 p.m. 

 made sail, uncoupled, and let fires die out. Current 0.6 

 knot per hour, setting to the eastward. Barometer at 

 midnight 29.25, temperature 46°. 



December 11. Fresh to moderate breeze from 

 W.S.W., decreasing in force. Foggy and drizzling rain. 

 Moderate sea and long following swell. At 7 a.m. 

 started fires. At 9.53 a.m. shortened and furled sail, 

 then sounded in 2540 fathoms, lat. 50° 50' S., long. 95° 

 14' W.; brown mud, shells. Ship rolling from 20° to 

 23°. At 1 1. 10 A.M. made sail, uncoupled, and banked 

 fires. In the afternoon the wind increased to a stiff 

 breeze with squalls; drizzling rain. At 7.20 p.m. short- 

 ened and furled sail, then sounded in 271 1 fathoms, lat. 

 50° 54' S., long. 93° 40' W.; brown mud. The shot 

 would not detach, although many attempts were made 

 by reeling in a few fathoms and then letting the wire 

 run out quickly. After working nearly an hour I 

 ordered the wire to be reeled in with the shot attached , 

 if it could be done. Many thought the reel would 

 not stand the pressure, but having confidence in its. 

 strength I thought it worth while to make the attempt, 

 particularly as the Palos reel could be used for the 

 remaining casts should this one be crushed. As the 

 reeling engine could not do the work unaided, the crew_ 

 were called on to assist. By detailing four men at a 

 time to work the cranks of the reel, and relieving them 

 at every hundred turns, the whole 271 1 fathoms with 

 'shot and cup were recovered without injury to the reel. 



