476 
CURRENTS AND WHALING. 
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 1 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 assimi¬ 
lated to St. Helena. The temperature of the waters around these islands 
is about the same as that which prevails in the ocean in the neighbour¬ 
hood, 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 ir¬ 
regular until we reached the latitude of 37° N.; after which we were 
strongly affected by a southeast current, whose influence continued 
until we reached the coast of Oregon. At this time it ran at the rate 
of fifty miles in tw T enty-four hours; but when the Peacock traversed 
this same space, ninety days later, the velocity had not only dimi¬ 
nished, 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 previously 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 southeast 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 
to exist on the coast of Japan, extending to the Aleutian Islands, and 
passing northwards along the coast of Kamtschatka. Of its existence 
off the latter country we have many satisfactory proofs, and more 
particularly those of Captain Beechey on the temperature of the sea 
which he found in latitude 67° N., near the Icy Cape. The latter 
fact leaves no doubt that the influence of a current coming from a 
