The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-01-18

their flesh, though not so palatable as fresh beef or
mutton, is preferable to sailed meat.
The vessel for this voyage should be from two TO
three hundred tons, and OF light draught of water.
She should be strongly fortified against pressure or
conclusion from ice The assistance of steam would
also he of great Importance, although the occasions
would be rare in which il would be required. In my
own experience have seen occasions where by the
aid of steam for a few hours n detention of weeks
would have been avoided. The steam power should
be So attached 10 the vessel as to be removed and re
placed ut pleasure, TO prevent injury from the ice.
The Toh1s | would recommend as the best would be
20 follow the .Asiatic shore from Behring's Strait rs
far as Cape kckurnai or Cape Sehelagskoi. The ice,
which melts earliest near the shore, and the melting
Of the snow upon the land forming innumeTable
streams Of water, impels the ice from the shore, leav-
Ing an open lane Of water near the shore, through
which n ship can pass without difficulty. especially
when assisted by steam in Gains and adverse winds.
After passing Cape Jakan, there being no land 10 the
north, the ice i driven from the shore by these streams
ard scattered in fragments in the open sea seen by
Wrangel, with sufficient openings for the safe navi-
CATION Of n ship In the month of August last, the
bark Nile passed over Il position within ten miles of
the point where Wrangell saw the open sea in March.
From some point between Cape kekurnai and Caps
Schelagskoi the course would lie from north to north
west, a. the ice would permit, until north of the Laa-
chow Islands, when the effects of the current from the
rivers of Northern Asia would be sensibly felt. From
thence a course directly towards the North Pole or
Spiizbergen, as would appear most feasible, should
be pursued
After getting to the north of the L5achow Islands,
should n vessel be INSTRUCTED by ice, the current,
though not rs strong "a that found north Of Spitz-
bergen and IN Bathn's Bay, ,coELd erenfuaity carry
the rssSeI through one Of these channels INTO the 1t
Lantie. In the event of any disaster TO the vessel, the
chances for the preservation of the lives of those on
board are much greater than by the route east from
Behring's Strait, as from the River KOlyma TO the
westward, Russian settlements are found hear the
mouths of all the rivers, where assistance can be pro-
cured.
Another route by which this voyage can be accom-
plished is to follow the shore from Behring's Strait to
the mouth of the River Lena, and from thence directly
north beyond Cape Sievero Vostoschni; from thence
To the westward tow ards Spitzbergen. After passing
the mouth of the Lena, a vessel would receive assist
ance from the current of this river and the other rivers
between the l05th and 10th mcridians.
land was seen hy FmnSIn in his exuehtion from Great Bear
Lake in 1895 down the Mackenzie River, and along the shore to-
tude of l4s9 w, with but little impedhnent from ice on the
associate, DR.. Richardson, proceeded to the eastward with
another party as far as the Coppermine River, without any
from the top of the hills at the mouth Of the Mackenzie River,
a and IS se Sai Il Be showing see% q ,Se p %~nsas il in a. Seer; Of I t & n A iiSess
upon the ice 1t was the current from this river and its Their
NAL influence which enabled Mcclure TO reach Banks Land.
and had there been other large rivers to the eastward, with no
land 10 o5stuct their discharge northward, would have enabled
him to make the passage between one ocean and the other.
The months Of August and September are, l think, the best
American whaiers have passed to the eastward ofPoint Barrow,
s sod ah taken ssp,S whales asia, late a; as n, the i 10th Of ssp Sfeia;sT' Sc ss1 png. mo 1s ice
row: Whales have also been taken as late as the 18th of octo-
Deshnew, it is certain, in l64s. sailed from the mouth of the
holyma along the coast OF Asia, and passed through Bherings
Strait 20 the Anadyr River. The account of this voyage, though
vague and uncertain in regard to its details, yet established
the fact Of the separatiotof the continents of Asia and America.
Shalaurow, Billings, and others attempted exploration along
this coast, but were unsuccessful and some OF them persisted
in their attempts. When we consider the scanty facilities and
rude structure Of their vessels, We cannot wonder AT their
failure.
With our modern improvements in the structure Of vessels
and appliances for propeling them, what to the navigators of
zoo years ago appeared possible, should to us appear and be of
easy accomplishment.
That a vessel properly fitted fer the purpose can winter in
safety at almost any point along the shore, is proved by the eSpe-
rience Of Capt. Celinson, in the Enterprise, who twice win
tered eastward of Point Barrow, once at Camden Bay, where
may lie grounded seaward from the vessel.
That the passage from the Pacific TO the Atlantic Ocean will
he accomplished by one of the routes which i have indicated, /
have = much faith i'm rs l have in any uncertain event in the
future, and much more than I had fifteen years ago, in the sue
Cess of the Atlantic Telegraph.
while deprecaung criticism on any verbal inaccuracies, would
invite discussion in regard 10 the views advanced, or the feasi-
bhity of the routes proposed. Although this route will be of mo
great importance To commerce as 4 transit from one ocean to
the other, yet could the passage along the coast as far as the
mouth OF the Lena he successfully made every year, (Which l
think prohable) il would be Of great benefit in developing the
resources of Northern Siberia.
Yours, truly, THos. LONG.
Honolulu, January Is, 1865.