THE AMERICAN IVHALE- FISHERY. 



iGo 



mark, we gave ourselves little anxiety about the needed supplj-, 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- reached the sandy heads of 

 the estuary. The change of the moon brought with it adverse gales from tlie 

 north-west, and an accompanying heavy sea, wliich broke "feather- wliite" seaward, 

 as far as the eye could discern from the mast-head, precluded all attempts, during 

 such w^eather, to pass the bar and work the vessels across the open bay of San 

 Sebastian Viscaino, to Cerros Island. Da}^ after day we anxiously watched for a 

 favorable change ; Init two weeks passed away before the wind moderated, ^lean- 

 while, our supply of water had become so reduced, as to compel us to put all 

 hands on an allowance of one pint a da}'. 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 an<'hor for months, became very foul, 

 and for this reason made their way at a snail's pace through the breakers that 

 still siuTounded 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 forlhdding liarrier 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 taflVail. 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 inunediate supply of water. Here we remained for 

 several days, employed in recleaning ship and in obtaining wood and water, after 

 which we set sail for San Francisco, wdiere 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 -WHALIXa INCIDEXTS. 



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. 



