During The Months Of March, April, And May, These Whales Appear In
Great Numbers In The Open Ports Of Santa Barbara, San Pedro, Etc.,
And Hover Off The Coast, While A Few Find Their Way Into The
Close Harbors Of San Diego And Monterey.
They are all off again
before midsummer, and make their appearance on the "off-shore
ground." We saw some fine "schools" of sperm whales, which are
easily distinguished by their spout, blowing away, a few miles to
windward, on our passage to San Juan.
Coasting along on the quiet shore of the Pacific, we came to anchor,
in twenty fathoms' water, almost out at sea, as it were, and directly
abreast of a steep hill which overhung the water, and was twice as
high as our royal-mast-head. We had heard much of this place, from
the Lagoda's crew, who said it was the worst place in California.
The shore is rocky, and directly exposed to the south-east, so that
vessels are obliged to slip and run for their lives on the first
sign of a gale; and late as it was in the season, we got up our
slip-rope and gear, though we meant to stay only twenty-four hours.
We pulled the agent ashore, and were ordered to wait for him,
while he took a circuitous way round the hill to the mission,
which was hidden behind it. We were glad of the opportunity to
examine this singular place, and hauling the boat up and making
her well fast, took different directions up and down the beach,
to explore it.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 205 of 618
Words from 56142 to 56410
of 170236
