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 



