The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-11
1926


the Government surveys, which would hav,
settled the subject at once. A few month
later, however, while crossing the Swedish
lakes, fell into company with Mr. Hagerup
Minister Of the Norwegian Marine. This gen
tleman was one of the three councillors, Il
whom Norway is by Its Constitution entitled
at the Royal Court in Stockholm. He was re
turning TO Christiana for his family When q
younger man, Mr.. Hagerup had superintendent
the survey OF the Norwegian coast, spending
three years there in person. he was perfectly
familiar with every island and ford and cur
rent. BE spoke English perfectly, and told me
much OF his country and of Its marine. We
talked of the Maelstrpm-the result of which
was, that he afterwards sent me answers at
length 10 six questions which | proposed in
writing. These questions were first submitted
10 Major Vibe, now at the head of the hydro.
graphic surveys of the Norwegian Government
The replies may therefore be received as giving
us, in so far as they go, exactly tie best that as
kslOaoR Of the IAdelstrem.
Questions Proposed Concerning the MaeistreD,
to Mr.. Hdgerup, Minister Of the Norwegian
Marine.
/. Do the common daily tides affect the
water so much that it may not be safely passed
In small boats?
2. Do the spring tides so affect it that it may
not be passed even by powerful steamers-or
how much do they affect it?
3. Does there ever exist such a lchirl in the
water that large vessel would be in danger of
being drawn under the surface?
4. May a steamer pass there, in time of both
storm and spring tide, without swapping, pro-
vided she would not swamp at sea in the same
storm?
5. Has there been any change in the violence
e. l. IL IL 4
through which it passes
6. Are there any other currents ON the Nor
wegian coast which are nearly as bad as or are
worse than this !?
Reply of 1Hr. HageTpp and Of MAJOR VTJe ST.
peTintendent Of the Norwegian photographic
Surveys.
/. Although the Maelstrem between Lotto
den and Mosken) at certain times, and under
certain circumstances, of which we shall here
after speak, may be dangerous for both smaller
and greater craft, vet is the danger, ia general,
not of that extraordinary character which, es-
pecially in olden times, was supposed, aud it
can even at times be passed by boats. When
the wind is steady, and not too violent boats
may venture upon 1t in time of summer, yet the
rather at food or ebb tide, for then it rests or
Is still for good half hour. At the point half
way between food and ebb, and the reverse,
a. e. half ebb and half food, it is most violent
and boats ought not then to attempt it,"
2. " In general, ard under the before-men-
toned circumstances, it may be passed by
large sail vessels or steamers also in time Of
spring-food and springfield The difference
between these is nine and half Norwegian
feet, while that of the usual daily food and ebb
is only six feet"
3. No; as before remarked, the Maestrem
may at times be still, and, with steady wind, be
passed by large crafts, and that-when circuln-
stances are favorabe-even during the whole
interval between ebb and food, and Cice ceysa
Whirls do not show themselves, or, at least, not
IN such strength as TO prove dangerous for ship
ping. (See farther under No. Al
4. 40 pass the Maelstrem in storm, es-
pecially in winter, is entirely unadvisabe for
whatever craft, great small and, even when
such craft could clear itself in open sea, il is
neither to be expected nor hoped in the Mael-
strem. The following remarks will explain
this
"The direction and violence ofthe Maelstroem
are in high degree dependent on wind and
weather. When there blows on the sea storm
from the west IT rams continually, in winter 20
the east, with a rapidity Of six knots an hour,
without changing its direction with the raising
or falling tide. AT the point Of ebb or food tide
1t may, indeed, slightly moderate, or even for a
moment show itself quite still, but it immedi-
ately increases again in violence, and sets CON
tinually 10 the east If at such a time the tide
Is rising, n. e., goes from ebb 10 hood,) the
stream becomes excessively violent and entire
ly unnayigable for either steamers or any other
craft
"In winter, it not unfrequently happens that,
at sea, bank of clouds shows a west storm,
with heavy sea- to be prevailing there, while
farther in, on the coast the clear air shows that
on the inside of the west ford least side of
Lofoden) the wind blows from the land, and
sets out through the ford from the east In
such case, especially, an approach to the Mael-
strrm is IN the highest degree dangerous. for
the stream and the under-current from opposite
directions work there together to make of the
whole passage one single boiling cauldron AT
sach times appear the mighty whirls which
have given 1t the name of Maelstrpm," "a. e.,
the whirling or grinding stream and in which
no craft whatever can hold its course For
steamer, it is then quite inadvisabe to at
tempt the passage of the Maelstronm during a
winter storm, and, for a sailing vessel, it NAV
also be bad enough in time of summer. should
there fall calm or a light wind, whereby the
power OF the stream becomes greater than that
OF the wind, leaving the vessel no longer under
command.
" At one place only in the stream there is
shoal water found, called Horgan,' which at
depth of from seven to eight fathoms is al
ways manifest; since the sea leven in entirely
still weather, and without breaking on it, con
tinually, as It were, boils and grinds and there
by produces a scum-white surface To avoid
this shoal, one must hold either close under
Hogholmene 1.-THE outermost reef on the north
side of the island MOsken) or under Lofoden-
better the latter.
H. Ill,
Lofoden, where the passage is embellishments
about l2,O00fee broad-the current runs strong
est. AT some points, il sets in crosswise TO
wards the land; namely, where it meets the re
turning current, which often runs as violently
as the great current, but in an opposite direc
ton.
That part of the stream which Is between
Hogholmene and Mosken cannot be passed al
all, as 1t is full of reefs and shoals.
We may finally remark that the wbirls in the
MaelstrPm do not, as was formerly supposed
draw vessels to the bottom or under the surface
bat that the violence of the whirs NAV FIJI them
thrust them against the land, or otherwise de
stroy them
o. mo; no change has been remarked
either in the violence of the stream or in il.
bed. The latter consists in part of rock AND
stones"
b. b. Strong currents are very common OF
the Norwegian coast, and some of them ar,
still more violent than the Malestroem, though
they may not like that, have different course
at different points. One of the best known i
Saltstremmen, between Strpmu and Kama
plunde, in Salten-fJord in Nordland. Thi
very narrow sound connects the said ford will
Skierstadfjord The latter must thus. throuol
this passage, receive the tide, and AGA n. will
falling water, return IL to the Salten ford wh;c