Log Entries:  June 20 - June 26, 1844

Thu, Jun 20, 1844 (Lat 50.09 Lon 165.02 E)

This day clear and foggy at intervals… Saw 8 or 10 right whales in the course of the day; lowered and chased twice. Fastened to one [but] the iron broke [and the weather] came in thick.  Was obliged to leave him.

“Harpoon” is a landlubber’s word.  Whalemen themselves typically called harpoons “irons.”   

Fri, Jun 21, 1844 (Lat 49.63 Lon 165.22 E)

… At 12 saw two right whales; lowered the boats and fastened to one [and] killed him, and he SUNK. Came on board.  Remainder of the day thick fog and light airs from SW.  At night took in sail.  So ends this day.  Hard luck.

Whales had an alarming tendency to sink after they were killed.  If in shallow water, a ship might wait in the area for a few days until the gases in the decomposing whale brought it back to the surface.  If you thought the process of cutting in a whale was bad, imagine cutting in one that had been dead for two or three days.

Sat, Jun 22, 1844 (Lat 50.10 Lon 165.29 E)

… Saw ten right whales in the course of the day.  Lowered once and chased without success.  Saw two ships, one of them boiling…

Sun, Jun 23, 1844 (Lat 50.00 Lon 165.20 E)

…At 7 saw right whales; lowered and fastened to one – the line parted and he got clear.  At 11 lowered and chased without success.  At 3pm fastened to a whale, killed him, and he SUNK.  Very hard luck indeed.  Saw 11 right whales this day.  At 6:30 p.m. spoke the ship Nile of Havre, 600 barrels.  Gammed til 9 o’clock.

Mon, Jun 24, 1844 (Lat 50.10 Lon 165.30 E)

…Made sail at daylight. Lowered again 10 a.m.  Fastened to two whales – one of them run to windward bad and was obliged to cut his line.  Killed the other one and got him alongside at 2 p.m…

When struck by the harpoon (Er, I mean, “iron”), whales had the habit of swimming as fast as they could directly into the wind.  This was of course the direction most difficult for a sailing ship to sail.  If the whale began to pull a boat too far away, it might take the ship days to reach the boat.   Many boats towed away by whales were never found again.  As heartbreaking as it was - particularly for a ship having such tough luck as the Thames – it was best to cut the line and return to the safety of the ship while you still could.



Tue, Jun 25,1844 (Sun Obscure)

First part of this day strong breezes [and]  rain.  Lying by our whale.  After dinner more moderate; commenced cutting in. Finished at 9 p.m. and commenced boiling…

Wed, Jun 26, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

First part of this day brisk breezes from SE.  Weather thick… Boiling out.  Latter part thick and rainy with brisk breezes from E.  At night took in sail.  Saw two right whales.  My birthday today.  25 years of age.

Well, boiling out meant at least a moderately joyous birthday, though the Thames’ hard luck seems to be continuing.  The familiar tune of “Happy Birthday To You” was not written until the 1890s, so “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow” is a more likely candidate for what Smith’s crew mates sang to celebrate the occasion.