The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-11-27

RAPIDLY. like lightning to use the expression of
some. and to chase them then is OF little or no use
The two fleets bring in oil and bone rs follows:
Bbls Oh ~ bone
sFx Ochotsk vessels ......-...... 1855 3lsoo
Forty Arctic S'AsS 4
Ss6Jg3f
This gives to the Oehotsk feet an average of4~2
barrels, and to the Arctic 1869 barrels tn each
vessel OF o joint average Of 99l barrels. and 1885
pounds Of bone to the whole. We add the sperm.
walrus. coast and Arctic oil together, in taking the
average. Besides the above, IL 1866 pounds Of wal
rus ivory has been reported, which does not appear
in the tables. In former years this article was worth
from 40 to so cents per pound, but the price paid
this year is Is to 20 cents
In 1868 the whaling feet consisted Of % vessels,
Of which two were sperm whalers and one n trader.
The remaining 81 averaged 75S barrels to each
vessel, although several were nearly 'clean-"
The catch this year, although it gives q better
average TO each whaler, amounts TO about the same
in the total as last year, 50 that the amount OF oil
bound home will be no larger this year. The best
catch is that Of the aurora, Barnes, who reports ,S59
barrels Of oil, Of which $50 we're sperm. He has
also IL 200 pounds Of bone. Next comes the John
Hourlsad, whel1en, with l,723 barrels. and 81 100
pounds bone. Then the Hawaiian whaler Esgie,
Loveland, with 1.625 barrels and e, 600 pounds Of
bone-a cargo worth in London $4,000,
From the various reports which have come to
hand we learn that the season was mild and ice not
troublesome till September when the weather set IN
very cold, the thermometer falling rs low as l00
below zero, accompanied with frequent fogs and
snow storms The rigging. spars. decks, sc were
completely covered with ice, 50 rs to render it almost
impossible to work the vessels
II was during this intensely cold weather that the
whales appeared in great numbers, and though it
was very difficult to carry on whaling. yet the
greater part Of the oil taken was during this month.
None who have not witnessed il eln have any idea
Of the suffering and h~arlships enduring by the
gallant sailors who cruisel in the Arctic this season.
Frequently the cold was so intense that the hands
and feet Of the Oarsmen and others in the boats were
frozen, requiring the greatest care To save their
limbs In quite n number Of instances, permanent
injury has been sustained.
Notwithstanding these h~ardships and the most in
tense cold, these brave whalemen staid nj their posts,
until driven of by ice and storms, against which 10
human power could stand But they did not yield
till they had in some cases filed their vessels, and in
most instances Obtained handsome cargOes.
Some vessels did not sight n whale after leaving
this port last fall until September. when tire whales
commenced leaving their Arctic haunts for n milder
latitude. Cold as the weather was, they succeeded
in n few days in slowing down ten or n dozen Of
their prizes
Several vessels have received considerable damage,
but the aggregate Is less than in former years. The
ship Vineyard win require more extensive repairs,
which are now being made
Ten vessels return to New Bedford this faIl. most
Of which take oil on freight. These are the
yarashoaks, Guy Head, James -ffsn, JNassacAu-
,,ns. Rainbov, John Carer. George Horlsnd.
Orio!s, Progress, and Helen Mar. the latter now
ut Hilo.
All the whaling this year has been done along
the eastern shove, the ships going north rs far as
Point Barrow. Over ON the west coast no whales
were found, though the sen was free from ice.
Two or three ships eruised near Herald Island, but
none saw wrsngeiI's Land. as the ice prevented
them from getting near IL. and the weather in that
direction was generally thick
Early in the season many Of the vessels took wal
rus oil and secured tusks. some ships slowing down
as many ne 800 barrels e walrus OIL, with 100 10
To 1900 pounds Of ivory. This oil Is said To be
quite ~ valuable a. ordinary whale oil.
Taking IL altogether the season north may be con-
siderei as having been = very favorable one but IL
will be apparent that the labor and hardship attend
ing Arctic whaling increase every year. However,
the pleasure Afforded by the success Of this year
satishes the hardy seamen, and they arc generally
anxious to reship for another cruise
whalemen's recruits. stores, salt and frcsh provi-
sions, sc have been abundant here this fall and az
cheap as in any other port. Money has been from
3 10 s per cent. premium. ut which rates the supply
has been ample. Considering the stringency Of the
money market in San Francisco and also in New
York during October aud November. these rates arc
deemed reasonable.
The feet for 1870 now promises TO be larger than
Z; has been this year. as Is ships are known To be on
And probably ships cruising on the line aud south
viii De attracted 20 the north by the success Of this
year. How long the Arctic ground will hold out is .
matter Of conjecture /; bat the probability 10 IL will
last for ten years at least
We republish below tie table Of arrivals Mt these
islands, and would add that the reports given are
either from the captains themselves or from the
records Of the American Consulate, and are prob