Log Entries:  June 6 - June 12, 1844

Thu, Jun 13, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

This day commences with fog and brisk breezes.  Fog [lifted] from 7 until 9 a.m.  Saw three right whales; lowered twice and chased without success.

Fri, Jun 14, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

… At 11 a.m. saw several whales; lowered away the boats at 12… Both Quarter boats fastened to a whale apiece; waist boat got stove bad – men chilled most through before we got them on board.  One of the lines parted and [the] whale got clear; set the other a-spouting thick blood.  At 2 p.m. the fog came in very thick [and we] had to leave him and hasten back to the ship.  Put a new boat on the cranes and commenced repairing the stoven one.

Whale ships typically carried five boats ready to launch, hanging on the davits (or “cranes” as Smith calls them) on each side of the ship.  “Quarter boat” and “Waist boat” refer to their location (or the location of the davit).  Each boat had a specific crew of six men, chosen at the start of the voyage (though of course, death, desertion or promotion would change the boat’s crew over time).  A number of spare boats were also carried on board because, as we can see, in the battle between whale and boat, the boat was often the loser. 

Whaling in the northern seas was made even more dangerous by what today we would call hypothermia.  If a boat’s crew ended up in the water, they had to be rescued as fast as possible.  If in the water for more than a few minutes, their fate would be far worse than being “chilled most through…”

Sat, Jun 15, 1844 (Lat 49:50 Lon 166.32 E)

This day weather clear and pleasant… Saw whales [but it was] too rugged to lower.  After dinner the wind moderated.  Lowered the boats and chased [for] some time; at last got fast to one [and] killed him, and got him alongside at 7 p.m…  Saw from 50 to 60 right whales in the course of the day.

Sun, Jun 16, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

… At daylight commenced cutting in the whale and finished at 11 a.m.; commenced boiling.  Ship lying too all day.

Mon, Jun 17, 1844 (Lat 49.50 Lon 166.19 E)

This day commences with fog and brisk breezes… Saw 5 or 6 right whales; lowered and chased without success… At 9 p.m. finished boiling out.



Tue, Jun 18, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

All day calm.  Stowed down 88 barrels oil and cleaned a head of bone.  Saw some humpbacks.  One boat lowered and went shooting – killed several ducks.

No whales, but at least some fresh food!

Wed, Jun 19, 1944

… Made all sail at daylight, steering on the wind.   Saw one right whale; lowered and fastened to him [but were] obliged to cut from him and hasten to the ship on account of fog.  [Fog lifted] again at 4 p.m.  At 6 p.m. saw 2 right whales; lowered and chased without success.

“These are the days that try men’s souls,” wrote Thomas Paine in the darkest hours of the American Revolution; but he may as well have been writing about whaling.  To see over 70 whales in a week and kill only three –  and to have to cut loose from two of those due to heavy fog, well… I for one would be discouraged.

How did the Thames crew take all this?  Will there be growing discontent?  Will there be mutiny?  Find out next week…