The daily union., 1852-04-08
The Japan ExpeditIon

On Tuesday communication from the Secretary OF the
Navy laid before the Senate, in obedience TO reso
luton OF that body calling for information as to the pro.
pety OF reconnaissance Of the routes Of navigation in
the Northern seas and the Of China and Japan, the
probable cost OF such Reconnaissance and the vessels at
the disposal OF the Navy Department TO perform such
service. We, in common with others, thought that the
call OF the Senate intended 10 elicit information
touching the preparations being made TO scnd pow
erfu fleet the Japanese coast and the objects conlem
plated by tle proposed expedition 10 that quarter Of the
world But il appears from the communication OF The
Secretary OF The Navy, which is published below that
we were misiak en--inasmuch il makes aluson 10
the fleet which is being fitted out for the East The re-
connossance spoken Of by Mr.. Graham is not The one
contemplated by the Executive. but suggested by the
Senaies resolution be made by the authority OF Con.
gress with vessels other than those al the command Of
The department, to be purchased constructed under
special appropriation for that purpose.
Proposed Reconnaissance Of the Seas around China and
Japan.
Navy DEPARTMENT, April s, 1851.
SJR have the honor TO acknowledge the receipt OF
the Senaie's resolution. adopted the 22d uimo. call
ing upon ''the Secretary OF The Navy 10 communicate
TO the Senate his opinion Of the expediency OF recon
noissance of the routes of navigation in the Northern
seas and in the China and Japan seas and whether any
vessels belonging TO the service be used for that pur
pose and, also, what would be the expense OF such
Reconnaissance"
so far regards the expediency OF the
referred 10 in the resolution find that the files OF this
department contain carefully discussion OF the
subject by the Superintendent Of the National Observable
nv Of the date OF December 3D., ls5l-confned however
TO the value and importance OF the whale fishery in the
Anadir Ochotsk and Arctic the whaling grounds
in the regions about Behring's Straits called from
which | beg leave TO furnish the following extracts:
"In the summer Of lsts Captain Roys, Of the whale
rines Straits in his adventurous pursuit
ce.sfu in his enterprise filling his ship with oil ia few
weeks Influenced by the which be brought back
the abundance oi whales in the United States
tain Roys followed by hundred and 6fyio sail
Of whale each vessel said 70 be) worth the
ago with outfit, $4,000 and manned by thirty able
bodied seamen each This fleet took that 26, $50
barrels whale oil, and 2,tsl 600 pounds of bone.
" In the of 1850, there went whaling fleet
OF hundred and fortyour American vessels manned
above and of like average value. Thsaee in tho
OF few weeks left for their pursuits In those In
hospabe regions. took 23 $50 barrels whale OIL and 65i
900 pounds oil bone. s
In the current year s5 there mp feet Of about
hundred and forty five American vessels but their
have been received partial accounts OF wreck
and dsnser only have reached us They are startling.
"rbe lives and properly stake there for the two years
for which we have complete returns may be thus stated