Log Entries: 
May 16 - May 22, 1844

Thu, May 16, 1844 (No readings taken)

… Saw several humpbacks.  Latter part light airs from E.  At sundown shortened sail; running under easy sail through the night.

Fri, May 17, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

This day thick foggy weather…  Saw 3 humpbacks.  At sundown shortened sail.

Sat, May 18, 1844 (Lat 41.30  Lon 162.37 E)
This day weather somewhat hazy… At 1pm took in sail and hove to; wind blowing a gale from NW.  Latter part clear weather.  Saw nothing.

Sun, May 19, 1844 (Lat 41.23 Lon 162.44)

This day clear weather with strong gales… saw nothing.

Mon, May 20, 1844 (Lat 41.24 Lon 165.05 E)

This day pleasant. First part light variable airs and calms.  At daylight made all sail, steering to the Northward.  Saw a number of humpbacks, lowered and chased. No success.



Tue, May 21, 1844 (Lat 43.21 Lon 163.39 E)

… At daylight made all sail, steering North. Saw plenty of humpbacks… At 5 p.m. saw 4 right whales; lowered, fastened to and killed one.  Took him alongside at 8 p.m. and took in sail.  [This is] the first NW whale that we have saved this season.

Wed, May 22, 1844 (Lat 43.21 Lon 163.39 E)

… At daylight commenced cutting in our whale.  At 2 p.m. finished cutting; made sail.  Latter part boiling… Saw three right whales just at night; lowered and chased without success.  At dark took in sail.



Some success at last!  A whale for the Thames!  “Cutting in” was the process of trimming the blubber off the whale; “Boiling” was the process of getting the slices of blubber into the try-pots and rendering it into oil.  As the Cooper, our log-keeper George Smith would now be extra busy, setting up barrels and casks to hold the oil.  Depending on size and species, a single whale might produce anywhere from 25-150 barrels of oil.

[BELOW] “Cutting In.” 
Once a whale was tied alongside the ship, a platform known as a “cutting stage” would be lowered in place.  Men would stand on the stage and use chisel-like tools called “spades” to cut the blubber off the whale.  The blubber would be brought on board and cut into ever smaller pieces until finally thrown in the try-pots for boiling down into oil.