Next morning fresh gales and hazy weather; saw a seal and several pieces of
weed. At noon, latitude 51 deg. 12', longitude 173 deg. 17' W. The wind veered to
the N. and N.E. by N., blew a strong gale by squalls, which split an old
topgallant sail, and obliged us to double-reef the top-sails; but in the
evening the wind moderated, and veered to W.N.W., when we loosed a reef out
of each top-sail; and found the variation of the compass to be 9 deg. 52' E.,
being then in the latitude 51 deg. 47', longitude 172 deg. 21' W., and the next
morning, the 18th, in the latitude of 52 deg. 25', longitude 170 deg. 45' W., it
was 10 deg. 26' E. Towards noon, had moderate but cloudy weather, and a great
swell from the west: Some penguins and pieces of sea-weed seen.
On the 19th, steered E.S.E, with a very fresh gale at north, hazy dirty
weather. At noon, latitude 53 deg. 43', longitude 166 deg. 15' W.
On the 20th, steered E. by S., with a moderate breeze at north, attended
with thick hazy weather. At noon, latitude 54 deg. 8', longitude 162 deg. 18' W.
On the 21st, winds mostly from the N.E., a fresh gale attended with thick,
hazy, dirty weather. Course S.E. by S.; latitude, at noon, 55 deg. 31',
longitude 160 deg. 29'; abundance of blue peterels and some penguins seen.
