642 PASSAGES OVEE THE ATLANTIC. 



on the experience of more than forty times crossing the Atlantic in the 

 Royal and the merchant service, and in command of vessels in both ; 

 latterly in one of 400 tons burthen, the Waterloo, and, as the custom-books 

 in Liverpool can testify, landed four full cargoes in thirteen following 

 months ; vs^hich, including the time required to discharge the same, then 

 load out to St. John's, New Brunswick, there discharge and load home 

 again, leaves but very little time for the ship to cross the Atlantic eight 

 times in fourteen months, which, in fact, was done. 



" Still further, in corroboration of my approved Northern track, allow 

 me to observe, that in the fall of 1823, by keeping a high latitude, the 

 brig Ward, myself master, also owned in New Brunswick, performed a 

 voyage out and home in seventy-two days. The same vessel, likewise, on 

 the 3rd of October, 1824, left the English Channel, and arrived again in 

 the Downs on the 3rd of January following. 



" I must add, that a strong, well-found, and well-manned vessel, alone 

 can perform these voyages; for they must be maintained with unremitting 

 attention and perseverance. 



" The necessity and propriety of the above remarks were particularly 

 exemplified by the Ward, which, on her passing through the Downs, in 

 1824, left ships there that were bound to the Westward, weather-bound, 

 and found them there on her return, having been driven back by adverse 

 winds; while she, getting out of the Channel, performed with ease a pros- 

 perous voyage to St. John's, New Brunswick, and back, exactly in three 

 months, assisted by chronometer, thermometer, &c." 



The New York packet ships, when making their winter voyage from 

 Liverpool, kept in high latitudes until nearing Newfoundland. This they 

 did for the twofold object of avoiding the tempestuous weather so gene- 

 rally experienced to the Southward, and of obtaining fairer winds ; and 

 thus by slipping within the mighty stream from the Florida Channel, they 

 evaded its retarding influence. The voyage by this route is shortened ; 

 and, although bad weather must be expected, it is not so violent as farther 

 South ; besides which the Eastern currents are avoided. 



A reference to the diagrams will show the routes recommended during 

 the winter months, as given on the United States Pilot Chart of the North 

 Atlantic Ocean, December, 1893. 



Although the voyage to and from North America, between the parallels 

 of 60° and 40°, has always been attended with a degree of peril from 

 masses of Ice which drift to the Southward, during the summer months, 

 from the Polar regions, yet many an unwary mariner makes his run across 

 the Atlantic without any apprehension of meeting these floating dangers, 

 or without sufiiciently exercising a proper discretion and vigilance to guard 

 against coming in collision with them. Commanders of ships should, 

 therefore, bear in mind the imperative necessity there is for using their 

 utmost vigilance and attention when crossing the above-named parallels, 

 especially between the meridians of 30° and 60° W., to guard against 

 coming in contact with these formidable dangers of the ocean. Upon the 

 subject of the Ice which comes down from the Northern latitudes, much 

 that is interesting and very necessary to be known will be found in 

 pages 441 to 454. 



