The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-29

osctinse N. between these meridians, uae ~
From I76 deg E. to I65 deg. w.. betwesa ~
parallels of deg, and 10 deg s., is capital 1esa
The vessel, therefore, reaching these grounAs BE-
tween the merdians Of 40 deg. and $50 deg We
may larry IN them, tending westward, a long -
she has luck, taking care not to look north Of the
line here for whales for they are not to be found
except as stragglers.
After crossing these grounds, which reach wese
should "carry on" withou. stopping to look fOr
whales until she crosses 20 deg. N, betveea I66
deg. w. and lis deg E., which is again fine spsra
After passing west of IT'S deg. Z. she win find
good sperm ground between the parallels Of 20 dsg.
and 30 deg N, as far as 40 deg. +.
Passing from these grounds, excellent right whale
fishing will be found above the parallels OF
so N. between 1852 w. and l6s'W
IN 9 ICE lss.E q i5s:E,,
and up through into Behring's Straits. Upon ~
these aforementioned right whale grounds there 10
have not as yet, found the log book of su1
whaer that has cruiscd here at any other season q
the year, and therefore my information as to ne
rest Of the year is negative.
But there is reason afforded by the chart for the
opinion that the right whales Of the North Pacifs
never come to the south Of the parallels named,
ana that thercf1 general rule these fish re-
main somewhere to the north Of the parallel OF -
deg. all the year.
II this indication of the chart be correct, and
see no reason TO question it, it appears that this
animal must have supplies of food all the ysar
70 und above 80 deg. n.
have reason to believe that the temperature Of
the sea has much to do with the whale or the
growth Of its food; that the sperm whale delights il
warm water and the right whale in cold; and those
whalemen who are cooperating with me in collect
ing materials for the Wind and Current ''Charts''-
and the whale chart belongs to the seres-win
therefore understand and apprecia te the Importance
"a Iai n IN tam IN lira M
air and water
There is another point also to which would can
their attention, because by regarding it, it may
prove of value to these researches and TO them and
that point is deep sea soundings.
IL is said that the sperm whale goes to the bobtona
of the sea for its food. What is the greatest depth
to which it can 60 for this purpose, and arc its
places Of resort confined to parts Of the ocean that
Now, if owners would provide their ships eaSk
with few thousand fathoms Of Irvine, and sSmo
scraps of old iron or lead to serve sounding
weights, am sure that the whalomen, from the
great philosophical interest which many Of them
manifest with regard to my researches would il
Gains get deep soundings for me.
If the ocean were very deep, and the time could
length out being known by what is left, be cut;
and the line and snker would cost but little, Ne
expense to each ship would be but triHe
take this occasion to say, because some Of the
whalemen have supposed it unnecessary to contin1s
the abstract when in sight of land that it Is import
ant to have complete abstract for every day they
are at sea, that we may know whether they find 6sh
or not, how plentiful, tho force and direction Of
winds and currents temperature of the air and
water; and CLEAN information as to all othor phsns-
mena which they are requested in the abstract log
to note. M. +. MAURY,
Leutant u. S. Navy.
NATIONAL OBSERVATORY,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., April l6, 1851.
y And in Behring's Straits.
1 This region is particularly attractive.