108 Mr, clayton’s Account , &:c. 
nor does the fnow continue in the plains or vallies a week 
together, or froft laft fo long ; but the weather in win- 
ter is perpetually changing, the fnow lies on the hills for 
nine months. 
There is a great plenty, and fome variety of mofs on 
all the illands, and moft of it when w r et w r ith water dyes 
of a brick-duft red. I tried it with other liquids, but 
found it ftill the fame ; fo I believe it can be of no ufe. 
The coafts of thefe illands abounds with whales of the 
fpermaceti kind ; the illands with innumerable feals and 
fea-lions, from whence a valuable fifhery might, if 
thought proper, be carried onW. The palfage out is 
twelve weeks ; the fame home. Ships might be loaded 
with oil ready made in lix and eight weeks, and the price 
of that article greatly reduced. 
Thefe are all the remarks I made while I commanded 
on that barren, dreary, defolate, boggy, rocky fpot, in 
1773 and 1774. 
(c) The year on which Lieutenant clayton left the Falkland Illands, 
there were ten veffels from North America employed in whale fifhing; and it is 
fuppofed, that the voyages anfwered very well, though in going out they com- 
ntonly proceed as far to the Eaftward as the Cape de Verde Illands. 
VI. Short 
