CURRENTS AND WHALING. 505 



mention the prevalence of an easterly current as far to the west as 

 the Sea of Celebes, and particularly in the latitude of 4° N. After 

 passing the parallel of 10° N., we began to feel the effects of the 

 current that is ascribed to the influence of the trade-winds, and this 

 continued without much diminution in its strength, until we lost the 

 trades in latitude 19° N. The drift by this current was two hundred 

 and seventy-one miles, in a direction S. 71° W. 



At the Sandwich Islands, I am not disposed to think, from any 

 observations I had an opportunity of making, that there are any 

 regular currents, or any set of the waters, except what is caused by 

 the winds. There is in fact rarely any difficulty in beating to wind- 

 ward ; the time of passing between the islands is about the same at 

 all seasons of the year; and I found none in beating up to my port in 

 a reasonable time, after falling to leeward of it. Their position is 

 assimilated to St. Helena. The temperature of the waters around 

 these islands is about the same as that which prevails in the ocean in 

 the neighbourhood, a fact which, as I have already stated, I consider 

 to be a proof that no polar current reaches them. 



Our passage from the Hawaiian Group to the Northwest Coast, 

 gave interesting results in relation to the currents. They were 

 irregular until we reached the latitude of 37° N. ; after which we 

 were strongly affected by a southeast current, whose influence con- 

 tinued until we reached the coast of Oregon. At this time it ran at 

 the rate of fifty miles in twenty-four hours ; but when the Peacock 

 traversed this same space, ninety days later, the velocity had not 

 only diminished, but what current was found, was nearly in an 

 opposite direction. In relation to the extent of this southeast current 

 in the months of March and April, I have no precise information, nor 

 can I supply it from others, since those who had previous^ visited 

 this part of the ocean had not paid sufficient attention to this subject 

 to furnish any precise data. All however agree in the fact, that they 

 were affected by a southeast current after reaching the longitude of 

 130° W., and the latitude of 35° N. 



Within the space embraced by the meridians of 145° and 160° W., 

 and the parallels of 28° and 35° N., the currents appear to lose them- 

 selves; and this is therefore to be considered as a nucleus. 



This soiitheast current may be either a return of an equatorial cur- 

 rent, or a direct polar stream. Its temperature would rather lead to 

 the latter conclusion ; yet there is an equatorial stream on the oppo- 

 site shores of the Pacific, flowing to the northeast : this is well known 



vol. v. 127 



