354 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



the 17th they fell in with the whale-ship Mary and Martha, of Ply- 

 mouth, Coffin, master, who informed them that there were at least 

 one hundred whale-ships cruising in the neighbouring seas ; of these, 

 several were seen. This will give some idea of the number of vessels 

 employed, and how great a capital is engaged in this business. 



On the 18th they had a gale from north-northwest, which lasted 

 through the day, moderating at sunset. They were in latitude 43° 02' 

 S., longitude by chronometer, 175° 24' E. The barometer sank to 

 29-30 in. A current was experienced setting northwest, in the direction 

 of Cook's Straits. 



On the 20th, in latitude 41° 00' Si, longitude 177° E., the current 

 was found setting northeast-by-north, half a mile per hour. On the 

 22d and 23d they experienced a heavy gale from the southeast, when 

 they were in longitude 179° 35' E., and latitude 37° 52' S.; during the 

 morning of the latter day the wind hauled to the south-southwest ; the 

 barometer, at 3 a. m., stood at 29-10 in.; the weather cleared, with the 

 wind at southwest. 



On the 26th, they reached and anchored in the river Kawa-Kawa, 

 in the Bay of Islands, off the American consul's, about three miles 

 above its mouth. Many vessels were passed lying at anchor off the 

 town of Kororarika. Here they found the tender Flying-Fish ; all 

 well. 



The cruise of the latter will now be taken up from the 1st of 

 January, on which day she parted company with the Vincennes,* in 

 consequence of having carried away a gaff, and being obliged to 

 shorten sail, in doing which their jib-stay got adrift, and carried away 

 the squaresail-yard before it could be secured. The vessel was in the 

 mean time exposed to a heavy sea beating over her, and at midnight 

 they were compelled to heave-to. They then steered for the first 

 rendezvous, Macquarie Island, where they arrived on the 10th, in the 

 afternoon, and saw the Peacock, but it becoming thick, they were not 

 seen by that ship. 



On the 11th, Acting-Master Sinclair landed for the purpose of 

 placing a signal on the island, agreeably to instructions. The landing 

 was found difficult and dangerous, and their description of the island 

 agrees with that heretofore given of it from the notes of Mr. Eld, as 

 being dreary and inhospitable. Large numbers of penguins, and small 

 green and yellow paroquets were seen. Near where they landed, they 

 saw about twenty huge sea-elephants basking on the rocks, which did 

 not seem to heed them ; when disturbed, they would only throw their 

 carcasses over, open their mouths, utter a loud growl, and go to sleep 

 again ; no measurement was taken of them, and one which was killed 



