Log Entries:  July 18 - July 24, 1844

Thu, Jul 18, 1844 (Not Taken)

…Lowered once in the forenoon without success. Lowered at 4 p.m. – fastened to one.  The whale struck and stove the Captain’s boat very bad.  We found the water very cold.  All of us saved with difficulty.  The whale got away from us…

Cold arctic winds from Siberia combined with the cold sea current typically keep the Kamchatka peninsula covered in snow until late May.  Even in July, the water will be “very cold” and a quick rescue is a must.

Fri, Jul 19, 1844 (Not Taken)

Lowered and chased twice without success.  Boiling all day.  Stowed down about 100 bbls of oil.  Just at night, saw a great many right whales…

Sat, Jul 20, 1844 (Lat 64.12 Lon 164)

… Finished boiling at 5 a.m.  Lowered at 10 a.m. and fastened to one whale.  Killed him and he sunk… Lowered again at 4 p.m., fastened to one [whale] – the iron drawed and he got clear.  Kamchatka in sight 30 miles distant.

Sun, Jul 21, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

All this day heavy winds from SW…Saw quite a number of right whales – too rugged to lower the boats.



Mon, Jul 22, 1844 (Not Taken)

… Saw two ships and 4 right whales. All hands employed in cleaning and bunching 3 heads of bone.

Tue, Jul 23, 1844 (Not Taken)

At 1 p.m. saw right whales; lowered and fastened to one – the iron [drew] and the whale got clear.  Saw 8 right whales and one ship.

Wed, Jul 24, 1844 (Not Taken)

This day commences with thick fog… At 10 a.m. [it] lit up some.  Saw two right whales, quite distant.

The whales give, and the whales taketh away… one stove boat, two irons drawn, three whales escape.  Maybe last week’s success was just - - forgive me - - a fluke.