The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-17

vessel NAV be swept back or carried forward by the
rent which she exposed during that time, $40 miles
thus making difference OF $50 miles In her progress
during only days OF her passage according as she
may have the luck 10 strike the adverse favorable cur
rent Would it not be great advantage TO every vessel
in the European trade, if she knew exactly where to ind
these currents and here 10 go to avoid the adverse one,
and where to take the favorable onel
To ascertain their limits is more than individual enter
prise can dot would require vessel TO be sent there
for the purpose and TO employ several months in the
animation therefore this would seem to be the business
oil government
Another subject which demands the attention of gov
eminent is examination as to the existence and true
position of dangerous rocks, REEFS and shoals, which
said to lie IN certain frequenled parts OF the
ocean. have now before me, in admirably kept
log by Captain Walsh, OF the "Sas Richards" on her
late voyage from Baltimore to Rotterdam and back an
account OF such danger He is one OF the thousand
observers, and this OF the many interesting points
that they are bringing TO light. In his remarks OF Sep
TENDER 5ih 1885, latitude Az AZ NORTH Longitude s90
rock just awash rough weather about the OF the hull
of ship of 500 have myself ii, SO as to be
certain that have though think But person in
whom have entire confidence assures me that he plain
y had and that he passed so near that the kep grow
ing on the rock he could have caught with boa-hook
have used it, 1t was described by his crew. who al
double reefng the ship he Forum OF Boston)
foetopsa The helm was put up just in time to clear It.
think saW it, AID am quite certain that there are
Soundings about there"
1t is exactly in the track to and from Europe 1t is
just below the waters edge and therefore the more dan
gerous for il cannot be until you get it, and it
is to knock hole into and sink any vessel that
touches it Who tell but that the President steam
ship and many other vessels that have gone down upon
vessels of the navy detached for that purpose would in
few weeks settle the question to the set of those cur
rents the extension OF the Grand Banks and the existence
and place of this rock.
i have every to believe in the discovery OF a
westerly current in the Gulf of Mexico which, if it be
proved certainly to exist and then have its course and
limits marked by public cruiser that vessels may
know where 10 find it, will shorten the average sailing
passage from Havana to Pensacola, Mobile, New Or
leans, and Texas, at least one third
AS for your favorite subject the whales, Il am happy
TO inform you that Lieutenant Herndon has them already
in hand and though his Investigations have yet gone
far enough to authorize conclusions, yet there is
doubt in my mind that if you will send well kept
journals, and enough of them, shall be able to
OF the the whales have been found in quantity in
the different MONTHS and We shall also show the parts
that are never frequented by them
Take as example: he has examined the logs of
sells which, the years 1898, 49, 49, 80, 40 A. AS and
49, crused 429 daysn the square from 50 to the eqa
tor between the merdans OF SO and $50 W. and whales
were found there in quantities. in every month except
January, February, and March In the square from 50
N to the equator between the merdans of 900 and 95s
W. he has in like examined the logs of vessels
which crsed there in search of whales days in the
years 1882, 33, 81 35, 1885, 80, 40 Al, 43, AS and 46
Some Of these vessels there every month of the
year, except December; and they only few stray
Cling whales in February and September. Ii remains to
be seen whether this animal reyists annually the same
part of the So far probable that he does
not; though it does not appear that he remains in any
part all the year round What, then, is to regulate
his visits from place place. Probably the abundance
of food: therefore, this is subject to which would
invite particular attention. What is the food of the
whxle! What localities and what temperature of the
water most favorable to its production? How long
does it take maure Satisfactory replies to these in
terrogat0res would throw much light upon the subject
The observations in addition required for this work are
the latitude and longitude of the ship, the temperature
OF the air and water and the set of the current daily;
the variation OF the compass often it is Observed,
and the prevailing character of the wind for every eight
hours OF the twenty four stating always the point of the
compass whence it blows. Besides thus the mention of
whales, large quantities of sea fowl, drift tile-rips, dis
colorabons of the water ogs, RAIN thunder aud lightning
whenever they occur or seen, with any other
marks that may be deemed of general interest," should be
entered in the journal kept for this Office Care must be
taken TO note i'll ii, also, the kind of whale whether
right or sperm.
Forms for this journal, with copy OF the wind and
current charts, may be had application of Professor
William Mitchell, OF Nantucket; Captain Daniel Nc
kenzie, New Bedford Captain b. Forbes, Boston ;
w. l.. Ravens, Sag HarboE George Manning + & G. w.
Blunt, or Eggert and Son, New York VIM II o. Riggs,
Philadelphia; Captain Goldsborough u s. Navy, Balt-
more; or al this office.
By application any of the above named sources any
navigator will receive copy of the charts and copy Of
the new sailing directions without charge condition,
except that he keep and return to this office an alb
stract OF his journal according 10 the form prescribed
Respectfully, &C.,
WAsHIN GToN, January l6, 1s49.