The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-08-12
VOLUME X. NO, 80.
The Norwegian Malstrmm.


ships, whales, and other trifles, with
facility and ease quite remarkable, is
etfectualy disposed Of by correspondent
Of the Boston Recorder, on the coast of
Norway, who has instituted certain full !
and categorical inquiries Of the intelligent
head OF the Norway Marine and Survey
Departments. To these questions, the
following replies are made, which cover
the whole ground Of the existence Of the
whirlpool, and Of the nature and extent Of
she dangers attending its navigation
The replies are as follows:
Although the Maelstrnn, al certain
times, and under certain circumstances,
OF which we shall hereafter speak, may
be dangerous for both smaller and greater
craft; yet is the danger, in general, no
ot that extraordinary character which
especially in olden times was supposed
and it can even, at times, be passed by
boats. When the wind is steady, and not
loo violent, boats may venture upon it, in
lime OF summer yet rather at flood and
ebb, for then it rests, or is still for a good
hall hour. At the point half way, be.
tween flood and ebb, and the reverse
Chtep halt ebb and half food, II is most
violent and boats ought not 10 attempt it,
In general, and under before mentioned
circumstances, it may be passed by large
ASii vessels, or steamers also in time Of
spring food and spring -ebb. The differ.
ence between these is 81 Norwegian feet,
r~hi'e that Of :he usual daily food and ebb
10 only sI feet.
The siSlstrem may al times be still,
aTd with steady wind, be passed By large
"ralt' and that--when circumstances are
fsvorabIe--even daring the whole in
ferVal between ebb and food, aud 0ice
"eTsG. Whirls do not show themselves,
or, at least, not Of such strength as to
prove dangerous for shipping.
To pass the Maelsrem in storm, es-
peelally in winter, is entirely unadvisable
for whatever craft, great or small and
even when such craft could clear itself in
Hhe open sea, it is neither to be expected
nor hoped. in tire Maelstrmm. The fol-
lowing remarks viii! explain this
The direction and violence of the Maei-
s!rem are in high degree dependent on
wind and weather. When there blows on
Hhe sea storm from the west, it runs con-
tnually, in winter, to the east, with ra
pidlty Of six knots an hour, without
changing its direction with the rising OF
falling tide. At the point Of ebb or flood
tide 1t may indeed, slightly moderate, OF
nven for moment show itself quite still,
but it Immediately increases again in vi.
oence, and sets continually to The east
II at such time the water is rising, the
nream becomes excessively violent and
sntirely unnavigabe for either steamers
OF any other craft.
In winter, it not unfrequently happens
that, at sea, bank Of clouds show ives
storm, with heavy sea TO be prevailing
there, while farther in, on the coast, tn,
G!ear air shows that on the inside Of thu
West'Dord, (east Of Lofoden, the wine
blows from the land and sets out through
The jord from the east. In such case es
pecially an approach to the MaelstroGm il
IN the highest degree dangerous, for the
st'eam and undcr-current from opposite
directions work there together to make o
Abe whole passage one single boiling
eauIdron. AT such times appear tn,
mighty whrs which have given it tn
name OF " Maelstrnm," e. G. the whirl
ing or grinding stream, and in which n
craft whatever can hold its course. For
steamer, 1t Is, then, quite unadvisabIe /
attempt the passage of the Maelstrmr
during winter storm, and, for sailn
vessel, it may also be bad enough in tim
of summer, should there fall calm O
light wind, whereby the power OF tn
Htream becomes greater than that of tn
wind, leaving the vessel no longer uude
command.
At one place only in the stream ther
10 shoal water found, called " Horgan,
which at the depth OF from seven to eigl
iathoms, is always manifest since III
sea (even in still weather and witho,
breaking on it) continually, as il wer
bolls and grinds and thereby produces
Scum'whlte surface. To avoid this shot
one must hold either close under Hol
holmene the outermost reef on the mort
eide Of the island Mosken) or under L.
foden-better the latter.
Between Hogholmene and the we
point OF Lotoden, where the passage
smallest; namely about 10000 fe
broad, the current runs strongest.
I''ht0p ~ oClo iU CIOhbWl5G IOWHI
the land namel y where it meets the +
Turning current, which often runs violent
Hs the great current, but in an opposi
direction.
That part OF the stream which is b
tween Hogholmene and Mosken cannot
passed at all, as it is full of reels a
shoals.
We may finally remark that whirls
the MaeIstrGm do not, as was former
supposed, draw vessels to the bottom,
under the surface. but that the volen
OF the whirls may fill them, thrust the
against the land, or otherwise destr,
1hem.
No change has been remarked eth
IN the violence of the stream ,or in its b,
The latter consists in part OF rock a
Gtones.
Such is the official report on the Ma
stIem. 1t will not fail to interest III,
who have been interested in the subie
Twelve General Rules of Health.
n b, Without tOlorablo physical hoa