During the Seven Years War (1756-1763)
Cook went to Canada where he learned how to survey and make
charts.
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South Channel
of Orleans, Quebec
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He spent the next few years developing his skills and making
charts of the St. Lawrence River (1759-60) and Halifax (1760-62)
For five years (1762-67) Cook surveyed the coast of Newfoundland
during the summer periods, returning to Britain for the winters.
Cook’s talents as a surveyor and mapmaker came to the
notice of Admiral Saunders who arranged for Cook’s charts
to be published back in England.
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Chart of the
Great South Sea
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During his three great voyages Cook kept
detailed records of the position of his ship and charted his
course across the vast tracts of empty ocean. Amongst Cook’s
great achievements were the first accurate charts of New Zealand
and the east coast of Australia, the location of many Pacific
islands and his exploration in the high latitudes of the Arctic
and Antarctic circles.
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A Plan of King
George’s Island
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King George’s Island, or Otaheiti
(Tahiti), was discovered by Captain Wallis, commander of HMS
Dolphin (1766-68). When Cook visited Tahiti in order to observe
the Transit of Venus in 1769 he made charts and maps of the
island.
“Very early this morning I set out in the Pinnace,
accompined by Mr. Banks and one of ye Natives with an intent
to make the Circuit of the Island in order to examine and
draw a Sketch of the Coast and Harbours thereof…The
Plan or Sketch which I have drawn, although it cannot be very
accurate yet it will be found sufficient to point out the
situations of the different Bays and harbours and the figure
of the Island and I believe is without any material error.”
(Cook, Journals I, pp.105-114, 26th-28th June 1769)
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Chart of New
Zealand
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During the six months between October 1769
and April 1770 Cook sailed over 2,400 miles around the coast
of New Zealand, surveying the coast from on board the ship
or else ashore. Surveying from the ship could be very hazardous
with the ship having to sail as close to the shore as was
safe without running aground. At night, in order to continue
a survey from the same place the following morning, the ship
anchored if it was possible or else had to hold its position
off the coast. The chart that Cook produced of New Zealand
was very accurate for its time and a remarkable achievement
considering the methods and equipment used and the weather
that was encountered.
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North Island
of New Zealand
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Cook commented on the accuracy of various
parts of his survey of New Zealand:
“The Chart which I have drawn will best point out
the figure and extent of these Islands…beginning at
Cape Palliser and proceed round Aehei no mouwe (North Island)
by the East Cape &ca. The Coast between these two Capes
I believe to be laid down pretty accurate both in its figure
and the Course and distance from point to point. The oppertunities
I had and the methods I made use on to obtain these requesites
were such as could hardly admit of an error… some few
places however must be excepted and these are very doubtfull
…”
(Cook, Journals I, 275-6)
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A chart of part
of the north coast of New Zealand
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Cook gave names to all the prominent features
on the coasts he surveyed. Inspiration for these names came
from a variety of sources: from the shape, colour or general
characteristics of the landscape; the experiences of the ship’s
crew, particularly if they landed in a place which was
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