Log Entries:  May 23 - May 29, 1844

Thu, May 30,1844 (Sun Invisible)

This day had thick and rainy weather… cold and disagreeable.

Fri, May 31,1844 (Lat 48.22 Lon 165.55 E)

This day clear and pleasant, with heavy winds… Latter part somewhat hazy.  Cleaned our bone and stowed it away.

Sat, Jun 1, 1844 (Lat 48.20 Lon 165.44 E)

This day weather somewhat hazy… At 3 p.m. saw right whales; lowered and chased twice without success.  Saw 6 or 7 right whales this day.  At night, took in sail.



Sun, Jun 2, 1844 (Lat 48.15 Lon 164.29)

… At daylight made all sail, cruising.  Saw 5 right whales, lowered and fastened – killed  ONE.  Towed him to the ship… At 3 p.m. commenced cutting in; finished at 9 in the evening and commenced boiling.

Mon, Jun 3, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

This day thick fog at intervals and clear at times… Boiling all day.



Tue, Jun 4, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

… Saw 5 right whales, lowered and chased but did not fasten.  Finished boiling at 1 p.m… At night took in sail.

Wed, Jun 5, 1844 (Sun Obscure)

This day had very thick fog… people employed on stowing down 102 bbls oil.   Latter part calms. 

“Bbls” is an abbreviation for barrels.  With a voyage blessed with “greasy luck” (as the whalemen would say), a ship the size of the Thames would hope to return to port with some 2,000-2,500 barrels of oil. So - - a bit of success for the Thames, but she only took one whale of the 15 or so they saw this week…

The “bone” they are cleaning is what we today would call “baleen,” the large slat-like ‘teeth’ used by many species of whales to filter their food from the water.  Bone was the ‘plastic of the day,’ used to make corset busks, collar stays, buggy whips, and a whole host of other goods.

Sperm whales don’t have baleen, but actual teeth.  These had no economic value, and were usually given to the crew for scrimshaw. On your next visit to the SHWHM, please take a look at the beautiful scrimshaw collection on display.