NORTH WEST COAST OF AMERICA. 47 



Seals were feen in prodigious numbers, and there is ^ ^j.^ P- 

 no doubt but the fea elephant frequents this place j fo «• — — — ' 

 that certainly it would be a lucrative employ for one January. 

 or two fhips to be fent annually for oil. During the ^"'^^y*^' 

 afternoon we had a moderate breeze at Weft by North, 

 and cloudy weather. At iix o'clock Cape Saint Juan bore 

 North 40° Weft, about eight leagues diftant. Prefently 

 after this, the wind, fhifted gradually to the Southward, 

 and blew a very ftrong gale, which brought on a heavy 

 crofs fea, and caufed. the ftiip to labour exceedingly ; the 

 wind was however by no means fteady, but veered from 

 South to Weft, ftill blowing a frefti gale, with frequent 

 heavy fqualls, which occafioned us to tack as occalion re- 

 quired. 



We ftill had ftormy tempeftuous weather, the wind con- Sunday 29, 

 tinuing to the Weftward ; on which I determined to ftand 

 well to the Southward, by which means, after running 

 down our Southing, we were certain of gaining, either 

 from a Southerly or Wefterly wind. 



Our latitude at noon on the 30th was 56° 53' South, Monday 30,- 

 and the longitude 63° 35' Weft. A number of very large 

 albetroffes, and many fmall pieces of rockweed, were 

 feen about the ftiip. As I was apprelicnftve that a cur- 

 rent fet us to the Eaftward, I fteered South Weft, when, 

 the wind permitted. 



The weather, which for fome days had been very February, 

 ftormy, now grew moderate, and we had light breezes: 

 from the Southward, attended with a thick fog and driz- 

 zling rain. This morning 1 ftruck a very remarkable fifti ; Wednef. i. 

 the hind part and tail were exadly like thofe of a fhark, 



and 



