CURRENTS AND WHALING. 
485 
recommend it to the especial protection and fostering care of the 
government. 
As it was among the first objects of the Exploring Expedition to 
render the dangerous path of these enterprising mariners more safe, 1 
trust it will have been perceived, that throughout the operations of the 
squadron, this interest has never been lost sight of. In fact, it has 
always been my constant study to endeavour to accomplish whatever 
could tend to its benefit. In the course of the various and devious 
voyages we have made, the greatest attention has been paid to the 
winds and currents ; and from my investigations, I hope to be able to 
point out the most feasible routes by which to gain the proper cruising- 
grounds, and to define their localities more clearly than has hitherto 
been done. 
Among other duties, we were called upon to administer chastisement 
for the murder of portions of the crews of whale-ships, as well as of 
persons belonging to the squadron, which was done not as a vindictive 
retaliation, but to convince the natives that their attacks on vessels 
bearing our flag cannot pass with impunity. 
In all places we have endeavoured to foster a good feeling, to esta¬ 
blish a system of fair dealing, to win confidence, and to act justly. 
The knowledge of the native character which I have obtained, and 
have recorded in the preceding pages, will, I hope, be of use in pre¬ 
serving a good understanding between them and those who follow us; 
rules and regulations were agreed upon in many places with the 
chiefs, for the purpose of rendering the property and lives of our 
citizens more secure in their visits to the ports of the islands; and 
it is to be hoped that they will be strictly observed on the part of 
American vessels. 
The Expedition has done much by its surveys and explorations to 
make the islands, their anchorages and harbours, better known; and 
very many doubtful shoals, reefs, and islands have been carefully 
searched for. Particular information respecting these dangers will be 
embraced in the Hydrographical Memoir. 
Our whaling fleet now counts six hundred and seventy-five vessels, 
the greater part of which are ships of four hundred tons burden, 
amounting in all to two hundred thousand tons. The majority of 
these vessels cruise in the Pacific Ocean. Between fifteen and sixteen 
thousand of our countrymen are required to man these vessels, half of 
whom go to sea for the first time as “ green hands,” and return after a 
voyage of fatigue and hazard, transformed into sailors. 
The value of the whale fleet is estimated at not less than twenty- 
five millions of dollars, yielding an annual return of five millions, ex- 
2 Q 2 
