Log Entries:  Oct 17 - Oct 23, 1844

Thu, Oct 17, 1844 (Lat 32.50 Lon 155.35 W)

 This day pleasant… tacked the ship two or three times… Watches employed in cleaning ship.

Fri, Oct 18, 1844 (Lat 33.40 Lon 155.14 W)

This day pleasant… Got out some of our bone; loosed and dried it, bunched it, and stowed it back.

“Bone” (or “whalebone”) is what we now call baleen – the large, slat-like strips that were the “teeth” of many types of whales.  A strip of baleen could be up to 12 or even 15 feet long.  Other than oil, the only part of a whale that was taken on board was baleen (the carcass and skeletal bone was left to the sharks).  Baleen was the “plastic” of its day – strong, light and flexible.  It was used to make skirt hoops, umbrella and parasol ribs and handles, corset stays, collar stays, buggy whips, and many other items.  It did however have to be kept relatively dry during the length of the voyage or else it might rot. Sperm whales don’t have baleen but actual teeth, but these had no economic value so were given to the crew to make scrimshaw. 

Sat Oct 19, 1844 (Lat 33.10 Lon 155.00 W)

This day clear and pleasant… Got the rest of our whalebone up; dried and bunched it again.

Sun, Oct 20, 1844 (Lat 32.40 Lon 154.29 W)

This day pleasant… Latter part [spent] gamming with the Tuscarora.

Mon, Oct 21, 1844 (31.10 Lon 154.08 W)

This day clear and pleasant with brisk breezes…  People employed in various jobs of ship’s duty.  Latter part gamming with the Tuscarora.

Tue, Oct 22, 1844 (Lat 30.20 Lon 154.01 W)

First part of this day had the weather squally with hard rain at intervals…Latter part clearer.  Employed all of this day in washing ship…

Wed, Oct 23, 1844 (Lat 30.35 Lon 153.41 W)

This day had stiff breezes [and] frequent squalls of rain.  Tacked ship several  times…   The Tuscarora in company.