SINCE THE INDEPENDENCE^ 



319 



The whale fishery of the Pacific, may be 

 estimated as follows : 



Dollars. 



North American . . . 12,500,000 

 British .... 5,000,000 

 French . • . . 3,000,000 



Total . . 20,500,000 

 The whole interest involved, including the 

 Pacific whale fishery, amounts to nearly forty 

 millions of dollars. 



The beneficial influence of steam navigation 

 along the shores of the Pacific, and the opening 

 a communication with Europe and North Ame- 

 rica, via Panama, are subjects of deep interest, 

 not only to those engaged in commerce with 

 the Pacific, but also to the whole commercial 

 world. The present state of communication 

 is long and tedious — between Peru and Great 

 Britain, it may be averaged at about four 

 months ; while, by the proposed route, it will 

 be reduced to little more than one-third of that 

 period, viz.. 



Days. 



Lima to Panama ... 6 

 Pacific to Atlantic . . .1 

 Isthmus to Jamaica, by steam . 3 

 Jamaica to England . . 36 



Total number of days 46 



