CURRENTS AND WHALING. 
501 
The crews of whale-ships are much more prone to scurvy than I 
had any idea of: during our stay at Oahu, several ships arrived, more 
or less affected with this horrible disorder, which arose from various 
causes; my inquiries satisfied me it was in most cases to be imputed 
to the long period passed at sea, aggravated by the despondency aris¬ 
ing from want of success. In one case in particular, the captain had 
stopped at some islands for fruit and provisions, of which he had 
received an ample supply, and, concluding that his crew would re¬ 
cover, he continued to cruise until he finally reached Oahu with no 
more than three men fit for duty. Several of his men had died, and 
the rest were in a very precarious state. This, in my mind, is a 
sufficient proof that it is absolutely necessary, not only to give the 
crew occasional relaxation, but a change of employment, and addi¬ 
tional hours of rest; it also shows that fresh provisions are not alone 
a sufficient preventive against, or cure for the scurvy. A change of 
diet must be accompanied by a change of scene, and cleanliness. To 
a strict attention to these circumstances, and care in promoting cheer¬ 
fulness, I impute the remarkable freedom from disease enjoyed in the 
squadron during the whole cruise. Feeling constantly that on the 
health and good condition of my men every thing depended, I lost no 
opportunity of encouraging amusements, and particularly enjoining 
attention to their cleanliness. 
I would strongly urge upon the owners of whale-ships the necessity 
of the assignment of a larger and more airy apartment to the crew. 
The usual accommodation in the forecastle of a ship is in every respect 
unfitted to preserve either cleanliness or comfort. There is, perhaps, 
more room for improvement in this respect than in any other that can 
engage the attention of the owners of ships. While they are lavishing 
every sort of expense on the cabins and saloons, and receiving the 
meed of praise from the civilized world for the costliness and beauty 
of the decorations, I would ask them to bestow some small attention 
and expenditure to increase the comforts of the common sailor, by 
whose aid alone their business can be carried on. 
Among the masters of whale-ships with whom it has been my good 
fortune to fall in with, were many intelligent persons, from whom I 
have derived much pleasure and information in my intercourse with 
them. As a class, they bear a high character ; but there are some, I 
regret to say, whose actions tend only to bring disgrace on them¬ 
selves and the pursuit they follow. I shall not dwell upon such a 
disagreeable topic, trusting that time and good example will meliorate 
the evil. 
There is one entreaty I would urge upon all those who are engaged 
