Log Entries:  Oct 31 - Nov 6, 1844

Thu, Oct 31, 1844 (Lat 23.06 Lon 52.22 W)

…Brisk breezes from NE… Coal-tarred the bottom of the waist and larboard quarter boats…

Fri, Nov 1, 1844 (Lat 21.03 Lon 153.20)

This day brisk breezes from NE… Latter part had several rain squalls…

Sat, Nov 2, 1844 (Lat 20.57 Lon 153.35)

This day pleasant… Latter part gamming with the Tuscarora…

Sun, Nov 3, 1844

This day pleasant.  Had light breezes from NE; steering W ½ S under all sail.  At daylight saw the island of Maui bearing SSW distant 45 miles.At3 pm hove aback.  Gaming with Tuscarora until 7 in the evening, then wore ship and filled away, standing off shore under short sail for the rest of the day.

Mon, Nov 4, 1844

This day pleasant.  Standing off and on the island of Maui til daylight, then made all sail and stood in with light breezes from NE.  Came to anchor in Maui harbor at 3pm.  The Tuscarora anchored the same time.  In coming in run afoul of the Crescent – carried away the fly jib and jib booms and stove one of our boats some.  30 ships at anchor here.  Found the following  Sag Harbor ships here: Cresent (900 bbls); Ann (1,000 bbls); Citizen (2,000 bbls); Ontario (3,800 bbls); Concordia (1,600 bbls). Went on shore with the Captain at 4 o’clock.  So ends this day. 

Hawaii was the great “way station” for the American whaling fleet in the Pacific.  Ships would typically stop there first after making their way into the Pacific to replenish supplies, make repairs, and give the crew a bit of time on shore (if they could be trusted to return).  Ships would then spend a few months at their chosen whaling ground (in the case of the Thames, off Kamchatka) and the return to Hawaii  and restock before heading to another whaling ground, or home.  There could be dozens of whaling ships in the port at any one time.  The other 5 ships from Sag Harbor must have been a welcome joy for the Thames, and a chance to catch upon news from home, or reconnect with friends and relatives aboard the other ships.

Tue, Nov 5, 1844

This day pleasant. Lying at anchor.  Got a couple of spars for the Crescent and carried them on board and fitted them.  One ship left the port today in the evening.  Got a letter from my wife dated Nov 28, 1843 stating the death of her stepmother.

Wed, Nov 6, 1844

… Dropped the ship nearer inshore in the forenoon.  In the afternoon broke out the shooks and began to set them up for water. 

Whaleships needed hundreds and hundreds of barrels to store all the oil they hoped to produce - and for food and water. To save space, barrels were broken down and carried aboard in bundles of staves called shooks. When a new barrel was needed, the cooper would take the shooks and make a barrel.