150 



3IARINE MAMBIALS 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 Sagluilien. 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 

 o-round- tackle of the weight for a craft of twice her size. Much of the time 

 fresh Avinds 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 Belseij, 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 j^ilot, and the occasion 

 was embraced, as the best suited to ascertain 

 the minds and inchnations of the seamen. All 

 hands were therefore mustered on declv, aft, and 

 liberty was given to all such as were disinclined 

 to proceed on the voyage — to all those who were 

 imwilling 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 hj 

 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 

 23ur})ose 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 Biisei/, 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 the alter- 

 ation was carried into effect ; the mizzen - mast, 

 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 linding Fur Seals there in any 

 considerable numbers, it was decided to double 

 Cajie Horn and make the best of their way to 

 the Island of Masafuero ; accordingly thej' sailed 



