Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/170

 me to do it for him; which I am very willing to comply with in, as far as I am able, But I shall come short in many things at present; but what is wanting now, may be supply'd hereafter. For, the season of the year will not afford many things, which you desir'd in your Letter*. By the next opportunity there shall be Roots, Seeds, and Fruits provided for you.

At present I shall informe you, that the Water about our Island does not flow, by any Mans Observation, above five Foot; and that but at one season of the year, between Michaelmas and Christmas; at other times not above three Foot. It is High-water, when the Moon is about an hour high; and the like after her going down. It flowes in from the North-West and runs to the South-East nearest, and in that part of the Land which lies most to the North-West, there it is High-water soonest. But the Tyde does not alwayes ebb and flow directly that course round about our Coast; but, I suppose, the reason is, that some points of Land, or Sholes, may turn its North-West and South-East course.

We have hereabout very many sorts of Fishes. There is amongst them great store of Whales, which in March, April and May use our Coast. I have my self killed many of them. Their Females have abundance of Milk, which their young ones suck out of the Tears, that grow by their Navell. They have no Teeth, but feed on Mosse, growing on the Rocks at the bottom during these three Moneths, and at no other season of the Year, When that is consumed and gone, the Whales go away also. These we kill for their Oyl. Bur here have been Sperma-Ceti-Whales driven upon the shore, which Sperm (as Rh