The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-10
Discoverie. In the Arctic ocean.

Some discoveries have recently been made
by the captain Of a Sag Harbor whaler, that
possesses no little interest to the geographer.
Capt. Royce, for long time, has believed
that new and more profitable whaling
ground existed to the north Of Behring's
Straits, an opinion he formed from reading
the voyages Of Capts. Cook, Clarke, Beechy
and others. The principal reason which in
duced him to put away for that ocean was
remark which he recollected to have read in
Beechy's Voyages, viz" OH here we saw
great many black whales, more than re-
member ever to have seen, even in Bafiin's
Bay"
The Captain, describing his voyage, says:
(" | entered the Arctic Ocean about the
middle Of July, and cruised from continent
to continent, going as high as lat 10, and
saw whales wherever went, cutting in my
last whale on the 22d Of August, and return
ing through Bhering's Straits on the 2sth Of
the same month. On account of powerful
currents, thick fogs, and near vicinity Of
land and ice, combined, with the imperiec-
tion Of charts and want of information re-
speeding this religion, found it.both difficult
and dangerous to get oil, although there are
plenty of whales. Hereafter, doubtless,
many ships will go there, and think some
provision ought to be made to save the lives
Of those who go there, should they be cast
away--they should not be left to perish among
the Indians who inhabit these regions"
During the entire period OF his cruise
there, no ice was seen, the weather was or
dinarily pleasant SO that the men could work
in light clothing. In most parts of the ocean
there was good anchorage from Ia to 80
fathoms. During a part Of the time that the
vessel was there, she lay at anchor. The
first whale was taken at IL o'clock at night!
1t was not difficult ''to whale" the whole 81
hours so light was it, that at midnight it
was easy to read in the cabin. The whales
! were quite tame, but entirely different from
any which Capt. Royce had ever before
taken. He took three different species, one
Of the largest yielding 200 barrels Of OIL
The first species much resembled the Green
land whale, yielding about 60 or 10 barrels
the second was species called Polar whale
few Of which have been taken on the \
w. coast and the third small whale pecu-
liar to that ocean The last three whale.
which were taken yielded over 600 barrels
The American COST has been explored,
surveyed, and found to be inhabited. Capt.
Royce discovered that the Asiatc coast was
also peopled by numerous Indian tribes, and
he expresses the opinion that they are well
supplied with valuable iurs, that could be
easily purchased. There are no good charts
Of the Asiatic coast, unless they are in the
possession Of the Russians
On entering the straits, seven canoes
containing forty men each, We're seen cross.
ing from the American to the Asiatic coast
There are three small islands situated in the
passage, hence rendering il extremely easy
for the dwellers on the American and Asia.
tic continents to pass and repass. Capt
Royce did not hold any communication witt
the Indians, as his vessel was but PARTIAL,
armed, and in one instance the Indians
showed that they were disposed to make hin
hostile visit when becalmed, but iavora
bic breeze springing up soon carried the YES
gel beyond the region Of danger.
NEW CEtzlNG GROUND FOR WnALi
SHIps.--The success which has attended tn,
Superor's cruise TO the Attic ocean will un
doubtedly stimulate others to follow her ad
venturous track. BY referring to the charts
It will appear, that a, favorable seasons
ships may cruise over 10 degrees of longi.
tude, and far north as the 10th degree. =
As the attention Of the whaling community
will now be directed to this part Of the ocean
as yet but very partially explored, especially
on the Asatic coast, It will be necessary for
cruisers to exercise steat watchiuness and
precaution The charts Of that ocean are
extremely imperfect Attached to Beechy',
voyages, published in London, 1881, ther,
is well executed chart Of the American
coast from Behring's strait to Point Barrow
the most extreme point ofland as yet explor
cd, lying in latitude II deg. &c. min. In the