The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-29
The Whale Pisherics--yfabits OF the Whale
Where most found, sc.
y TO n Ts
NATIONAL OBSERVATORY, Z
Washington, April ib, 1851. {

W utHingtOu, AIfii 1871.
SIR have the honor to enclose for your official
action the accompanying :" Notice to Whalemcn,"
which il derived from the investigations that have
been carried on AT this oico with regard 10 the mi
gratory habits and places Of resort Of the whale
sperm and right.
have IN to believe that tho right whale Of
the southern hemisphere is quite different animal
from that OF the northern; That the two scpa
rated by Uo them) an impossible barrier. have
aso reason 10 suspect, FROM results that have been
clicitcd IN The course of these Investigations that
the same whale which Is taken in Behring's Straits
j. taken in Bafns LAY also; and IL this be so, these
Investigations prove beyond question that this ani-
NAL cannot pass from the one region 10 the other,
except through the Arctic ocean; aud hence We are
entitled to infer that there H. at times at least, an
open water Communication between these straits
snd bey; IN other words that there Is northwest
passage.
This interesting piece Of circumstantial evidence
in favor Of passage there. called to the notice
of Lieut.. de Haven, when he LEFT this Office to take
command OF the expedition in search of Sir John
franklin aud his companions. 30 much was that
entctptising officer impress "A with the Importance
Of this suggestion, and thc considerations growing
cut OF II, that he EXPIRE sei tho intention, after
reaching the Arctic sea observe closely the ha-
bits of the whale, and should these fish be observed
to take westwardly course, to use them as pilots
by the wav.
The wind and current charts give me reason TO
conjecture that the whaemcn who attempt 20 cruise
IN high southern ATTITUDES, will dnd II region OF
heavy weather, for though researches have not
yet been extended TO that quarter, the results at
tanned with regard TO the trade winds indicate that
Va the general system Of stmesI Aerical circulation
the prevailing winds are less liable 90 interruption,
and that the general system Of circulation u more
active In the southern than in the northern hemi-
sphere; and therefore il mny be suggested, By way
of prccsution. that none but staInch, well fitted
and found vessels should undertake the high south
crn cruise. Respectfuly, Sc.
(Signed) Nj. K. marry Lieut.. Y > n.
Com. l.; WARRINGTON, Chicfof Bureau Of Ordnance
and photography.
NOTICE TO wHALEMEN.
captain Daniel Mckenzie, Of New Bcdtori,
ana George Meaning, Of New York, have been
engaged for . year In procuring for this office
information from whalcrs and others concerning
navigation AID its industrial pursuits Of the Sea
The log books containing this information have
been uscdLerc by Lieutenants llerndon, Leigh, and
Fleming. OF the Navy, In making chart to show
when md where our whalcncn have searched Tor
whales; when and where they have found them
wi'n what abundance; and whether IN schools OF
| aituc.
This chart divides the ocean into districts Of deg
latitude BY deg. neutrality-suspicious.
through each Of which districts are twelve columns
| tor the twelve months; and horizontally through
each Of which districts are three lines; one to shov
| the number Of days that have been spent IN eac'
mouth in every district snd the TIVE sthsss TO she's