228 PACIFIC AND 



the whaler. Their voyages and adventures, too, are of the most 

 daring kind. In small vessels they venture into high southern 

 latitudes, and have actually taken seal, with profit, in some in- 

 stances, within the south antarctic circle. In the history of the 

 seal-trade, secrecy in what they know, has been deemed a part, 

 and a very important part, too, of their capital. There is nothing 

 more common at this time, than that islands are frequented for 

 animal-fur, and their positions known to no one on board but the 

 captain ; and when an island is discovered, the observations are 

 made and noted down by the captain in his private journal. 



In frequent and familiar conversations with these practical men, 

 who have spent so many years of their lives in these high latitudes, 

 I have been enabled to draw out a great deal of information in re- 

 lation to the manner of conducting a vessel with safety through 

 the ice, and the proper season of ths year to make the attempt to 

 reach high latitudes, with a world of useful hints and observations 

 of a kindred nature. These I do not deem it necessary to give in 

 detail, but have recorded them in my private notes for future use. 

 L have also been enabled to ascertain, with a good deal of precis 

 ion, the portion of the southern hemisphere where these attempts 

 to reach a high latitude have always proved ineffectual. And 

 they have communicated to me, also, where their experience has 

 fully shown that vessels may advance with no great difficulty into 

 very high latitudes, if not to the 90th degree itself. From all 

 which, as well as from answers received to a circular letter ad- 

 dressed to many whom I could not see, I have been enabled to 

 make the following estimate : 



That they have been near 70 S. latitude in a few instances, in 

 which latitude they experienced moderate weather, a clear sea, 

 and no land or ice to the south. They all agree that the ice to be 

 met with is first formed and attached to land, and that the greatest 

 impediment to navigation from ice will be found from 62 to 68 

 S. except in those meridians where they have not been able to go 



