Friends come through again. Who would have guessed.

Who would have guessed that 20 mile south of Ashland WI I would have a friend that owns a whale vertebra? The hole is where the spinal cord would pass.

The dollar bill is 6 inches long.

Week 15 at sea. Aug. 7th to Aug. 13, 1876

Monday Aug th/7
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind got
the whale to the ship at 3 PM and commenced
to cut at 8 sent all hands below at 4 AM
Called all hands and started cutting worked all
day got his head off and cut part of the body
Saw two sails wind increasing
Lat 36-10 N Lon 45-41 W

Tuesday Aug th/8
Begins with strong wind and Cloudy weather at
night blowing a morderate gail at 4 1/2 AM
Commenced to cut again blowing a morderate gail
with heavy rain squalls finished the body and left
the head along side wind from W.N.W.

Wednesday Aug th/9
Begins with better weather and sea going down
at 3 PM Com to boil ship on starboard tack
Lat part took in the Junk and baled what was
left of the case most of it had run out weather
more morderate, boiling as fast as posable [possible]
Lat 35-22 Lon 44-49

Thursday Aug th/10
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind from
westward ship heading to North employed boiling
Lat part the same wind from N.N.W. and light
saw nothing
Lat 35-30 N Lon 44-42 W

Friday Aug th/11
Begins with fair weather and light wind from
N.N.W. ship heading W. employed boiling Lat part
weather the same finished boiling about 80 bls
wind from N.W. nothing in sight
Lat 35-10 N Lon 44-41 W

Saturday Aug th/12
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind from
NW nothing in sight Ship heading N.N.E.
Lat part weather fine heading to N. E. employed
stowing oil
Lat 34-59 Lon 44-24 W

Sunday Aug th/13
Com with pleasant weather and light wind from
N.N.W. finished stowing at 4 PM. 78 bls at 6 p.M.
tacked ship heading W. Lat part light wind and
fine weather saw a sail to South
Lat 34-23 N Lon 45-06 W

Well the Captain and mates have been on shore leave.

This should get us shipshape again.

Week 14 - Monday Jul 31 - Sunday Aug 6, 1876

Monday July th/31
Com with pleasant weather and light
air from S. employed cutting Lat Part
weather the same employed Cutting one
sail in sight
Lat 36-34 N Lon 44-51 W
Com boiling

Tuesday Aug th/1
Com with fine weather and light wind finished
baling Case at 3 P.M.
Lat part weather the same. saw a ship heading
to the west ship heading NE by E wind from S
Lat 36-42 N Lon 44-41 W
[bailing the contents of the Case, or head of the sperm whale]

Wednesday Aug th/2
Com with pleasant weather and light wind
employed boiling Lat part weather the same
employed boiling wind from S ship heading SS
E with light wind
Lat 36-30 N Lon 43-43 W

Thursday Aug th/3
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind
from S ship heading to Eastward Lat part
weather the same heading to SE. saw nothing
employed boiling and stowing oil
Lat 35-51 N Lon 42 47 W

Friday Aug th/4
Com with pleasant weather and fresh wind
from W. heading on diferant tacks. employed
boiling and stowing oil. saw a steamer heading
S.W. brig riged with red smoke stack. stowed
80 bls oil finished boiling at 11 P.M. Lat part fine
weather saw a whaler to South
Lat 35-55 N Lon 43-04 W

Saturday Aug th/5
Com with pleasant weather and light wind from
S.W. ship heading W.N.W. one sail in sight
Lat part weather the same employed stowing oil
nothing in sight ship heading to West wind
from SSW.
Lat 35-49 N Lon 44-40 W

Sunday Aug th/6
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind
heading to westward wind from SS.W. Lat part
fine weather Saw a Bark supposed to bee the
Janet about two Miles to leward both standing to
westward at 9 AM saw white watter on Lee bow
kept off a little run down acrost the other ships head
about one mile off she wished to gam but we
kept on the whales in sight all the time when he
found we would not stop he wore ship and went
on the other tack and when th was about four
miles off we lowared and struck in a short time
and got a whale. got fast quarter to 12. Saw an-
nother whaler to windward supposed to bee Minasota [Minnesota]
Lat 35-40 N Lon 44-42 W

Whale photos from a friend of a friend in Alaska. Taken yesterday.

Whalers use to call the flukes (tail fins) "the hand of god". Many a whale boat and whaler were crushed and killed by flukes like these.


These photos had this note attached.

this morning at Mary's Flats (for those of you who know where/what this is) these whales surface directly in front of our boat...Not more that 50 feet from us...and then began their beautiful dance....in and out of the water...gosh it was so amazing.

Whale in the news.

This news from Alaska. Fin whale wedged on a cruise ship bow.

Thirteen weeks at sea. July 24th to July 30, 1876

Monday July th/24
Begins with pleasant weather and wind
from S.S.W working to southward at sundown
shortened sail for the night as usual
Lat part weather the same saw one sail
Lat 36-08 N Lon 45-45 W

Tuesday July th/25
Com with pleasant weather and good wind from
S.S.W. ship working to south on diferant tacks
Lat part pleasant with light wind saw a sail
Saw Blackfish lowared the boats but did not
get fast
Lat 35 51 N Lon 46-08 W

Wednesday July th/26
Com. with light airs and hazy weather one sail
in sight heading W. by S. at 6 P.M. Came
up to S.W. by S Mid part heavy rain
Lat part pleasant weather Saw two sails
Lat 36-00 N Lon 46-48 W

Thursday July th/27
Com with pleasant weather wind from S.E.
at 1 P.M. spoke Bark Minasota Allen two weeks
out and got late papers Lat part strong wind
from S.E. ship on diferent tack
Lat 36-04 N Lon 45-54 W
[Bark Minnesota, Capt. David E. Allen - p. 654 Starbucks,
left New Bedford July 11, 1876]

Friday July th/28
Com. with pleasant weather and strong wind
from S.E ship working to S. on diferant tacks
Mid part had some rain Lat part fair with
wind S.E. ship heading to Eastward
Lat 36-00 N Lon 46-41 W

Saturday July th/29
Com - with wind from S.S.E. heading E.
nothing in sight Lat part light wind Stearing
to Eastward on the wind Saw one sail
Lat 36-33 N Lon 44-44 W

Sunday July th/30
Com - with pleasant weather and light wind
from S at 1 P.M. raised a large whale and
lowared for him Waste Boat got fast about 5 P.M. and
got to the ship with it about 1 AM commenced
cutting at 5.
Lat 36-37 N Lon 44 57 W

Seventh week at sea. June 12 to June 18, 1876

Monday June th/12
Begins with pleasant weather and Strong wind
From ESE ship heading to N.E. Lat part Ship
On diferant tacks Saw two sail Crew employed about
the ship as usual
Lat 30-21 N Lon 73-35 W

Tuesday June th/13
Begins with fine weather and wind from E at
6 P.M. gamed bark—E. B. Phillips of Boston 20 months
out 200 bls Lat part weather the same ship heading
to Eastward
Lat 30-38 N Lon 73-26 W
[Gam: n., a social meeting between the crews of two ships on the open sea. For a complete description see here.]
[Bark E. B. Phillips of Boston, p. 650, Starbucks.
also referenced on p. 654 under New Bedford, as "bought from Boston"]

Wednesday June th/14
Begins with pleasant weather and wind from SE
two sails in sight Lat part weather the same
Saw two Sail Ship heading to Westward
Lat 30-50 N Lon 73-46 W

Thursday June th/15
Begins with pleasant weather and wind from
East saw two sails gamed the Schooner Wm.
Martin of Boston 30 bls. Lat part much the
same one sail in sight
Lat 30-33 N Lon 73-50 W
[Schooner William Martin, p. 656 Starbucks]

Friday, June th/16
Com with Strong wind from E Ship heading
SS.E. saw a sail to south Lat part weather
the same made sail at sunrise as usual
Lat 30-58 N Lon 73-26 W

Saturday June th/17
Begins with pleasant weather and strong
wind from E. at two P.M. kept off W.
one sail in sight Lat part weather about the
same at half past five Am raised whales and
lowered at 8 1/2 Waste boat got one the others
made no stop but left like a streak saw them
only one riling [rising?] after got fast
Lat 30-40 N Lon 73-45

Sunday June th/18
Begins with pleasant weather Cut in our whale
and started the works wind from S.E.
Lat part pleasant weather and light wind heading
E. saw three sail. finished boiling (13 bls turned up)
Lat 31-35 N Lon 78-33 W

Sixth week at sea. June 5 to June 11, 1876

Monday June th/5
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind from
S at 6 PM got a smart breeze from a squall
with a little rain. Saw a sail to Westward.
Lat part pleasant weather at 5 AM raised whales
lowared and waste boat got one a large lot of them
Lat 32-25 N Lon 74.14 W

Tuesday June th/6
Begins with pleasant weather wind from S
Cut in our whale and started the works [try-works for boiling oil] at
sundown shortened sail as usual Lat part squaly
Saw five sail finished boiling had about 9 bls
had Strong wind from S. with heavy sea
Lat 32-25 N Lon 73.45 W

Wednesday June th/7
Begins with pleasant weather wind Came round
to N. Steared S. Lat part Strong wind Stearing
the same at noon Luffed on the wind to E.
three sail in sight
Lat 30-30 Lon 73-39 W

Thursday June th/8
Begins with Strong wind from N. at 1 P.M.
passed Schooner Mary E. Simmons with a whale
along side. at 5 tacked heading N.W.
Lat part wind Came to E. Ship on diferant
tacks
Lat 30-58 N Lon 73-36 W
[Schooner M. E. Simmons, Provincetown, MA, p.654 Starbucks]

Friday June th/9
Begins with strong wind from E. with pleasant
weather saw a schooner to N. stowed our oil 8 bls
Lat part much the same Saw two schooners
Ship on diferant tacks
Lat 30-55 N Lon 73-34 W

Saturday June th/10
Begins with pleasant weather and strong wind
from E. stearing south West Lat part Strong
wind with Cloudy weather Saw a Schooner.
employed setting up riging
Lat 30-46 N

Sunday June th/11
Begins with Strong wind fom E.S.E. heading
S. one sail in sight. Cloudy weather
Lat part Strong wind heading to eastward saw two
sails weather pleasant
Lat 30-42 N Lon 73-25 W.

Fifth week at sea. May 29 to June 4 1876.

Monday May th/29
Begins with hazy weather Standing to SW.
Wind from S.E. Lat part rainy Saw one Sail
Employed boiling wind from S.E.

Tuesday May th/30
Begins with rainy weather and Strong wind
from S.E. heading E.N.E. finished boiling at
5. P.M. turned up 21 bls. Lat part rainy
with Strong wind from N.E. ship on
diferant tacks
Lat 30 59 N Lon 72 55 W

Wednesday May th/31
Begins with Strong wind and rough Sea
with some rain at sun down took in fore
Topsail Ship heading N.W. Lat part blowing
Strong with rough sea
Lat 31-38 N Lon 73 13 W

Thursday June th/1
Begins with Strong wind from NE. and
rough sea Saw a sail to the south.
Lat part wind light with heavy swell from N
Saw two schooners Stearing S.E.
Lat 31-55 N Lon 73-43 W

Friday June th/2
Begins with pleasant weather and heavy swell
from N Stearing S. Caught a porpoise
Lat part wind light heading to West Stowed our oil
about 20 bls weather pleasant
Lat 32-08 N Lon 73-49 W 45?

Saturday Jun th/3
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind Stearing
S. by W. Lat part wind Came round to S Ship
on diferant tack. Working to south Saw two
sail
Lat 32-00 N Lon 73 22 W

Sunday June th/4
Begins with pleasant weather and wind from
S at night took in light sails heading to East
ward Lat part pleasant weather and light wind from
S heading on both tacks Saw a brig heading to N.E.
Lat 32-05 N Lon 73 44 W

Fourth week at sea. May 21 to May 28, 1876

Sunday May th/21
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind
saw Blackfish and waste boat got one
Lat part pleasant weather Stearing N.E.
nothing in sight
Lat 30-10 N Lon 75-03 W

Monday May th/22
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind from
W Stearing N.E. nothing in sight
Lat part weather the same saw a schooner heading to W.
Ship heading ESE. with wind from W.
Lat 30-30 N Lon 74-42 W

Tuesday May th/23
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind from W.
Stearing E.S.E. took in sail at dark for the night
Lat part weather the same Saw three sail Crew employed
about the Ship
Lat 30-05 N Lon 74-32 W

Wednesday May th/24
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind from
W heading to N.N.W. one sail in sight at sun
down took in sail. Lat part Calm with pleasant
weather
Lat 30.29 N Lon 74.51 W

Thursday May th/25
Begins with Calm and pleasant weather one sail
in sight Lat part Squally with some rain
and Strong wind Saw a bark. ship on diferant
tacks working to Eastward

Friday May th/26
Begins with Squally weather and Strong wind
working to Eastward Cloudy weather with a
little rain Lat part pleasant weather and light
wind from S Stearing to E. Saw 4 Sail
Lat 31-12 N Lon 75-05 W.

Saturday May th/27
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind
from S Ship heading E. by S. Two sail in sight
Lat part fine wind at half past 8 Saw a
breach in weather beam made all sail and
worked to windward the remainder of the
day.
Lat 31-00 N Lon 73 45 W

Sunday May th/28
Com- with wind from N. at 2 PM lowared
the boats Starboard boat got fast. line got
foul and cut. at half past 5 Larboard
boat got fast and parted line then Starboard
boat got one. got to the Ship at 10 PM
Lat part Cut it in and started the works
Lat 31-08 N Lon 73-17 W

Third week at sea. May 14 to May 20 1876

Sunday May th/14
Begins with light airs and hazy weather with
a little rain engaged riging Cutting gear
Lat part Strong wind from N.E. Stearing S.W.
Saw one sail Ship under for sail and Main
topsail
Lat 31-13 N Lon 73-55 W

Monday May th/15
Begins with strong wind from N.E. Stearing S.W.
at 6 P.M. lufed to the wind on port Tack
heading SE by E. Lat part Strong wind saw nothing
Lat 30-25 N Lon 74-11 W

Tuesday May th/16
Begins with Strong wind from E. Stearing W. at
7 P.M. lufed to on port tack and Shortened sail
for the night at sun rise made sail heading N.
pleasant weather sent Cutting pendants aloft [part of cutting gear?]
saw nothing
Lat 30-36 N Lon 74-20 W.



Wednesday May th/17
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind from
N.E. heading to the Northward at 7 P.M. saw
whales but did not go in pursuit of them it being
nearly dark. wore ship* and stood to the S. and
at sun rise saw them again at 8 A.M. lowared and
the Starboard boat Struck but drew. waste boat
got capsised Jiling [Jibing * *] Larboard boat had one mised
Lat 30-10 N Lon 75-31 W

Thursday May th/18
Begins with Strong wind Chasing whales Come on
board at 4 PM at 7 shortened sail for the night
Lat part pleasant weather and light wind engaged
breaking out nothing in sight.
Lat 30-44 N Lon 75 ?? W

Friday May th/19
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind
from S.E. Lat part light air and Calms Saw
a Schooner to south. pleasant weather
so ends this day
Lat 30-44 N Lon 75-26 W

Saturday, May th/20
Begins with Calm weather at 5 PM got a light
wind from S. at 5 Sent the Waste boat
to a Schooner with letters. She proved to be
the Isaac Oliver. from xxx. Cages for New York)
Lat part pleasant weather and light wind Stearing
S.S.E.
Lat 30-48 N Lon 74-56 W

* Wearing ship - tacking away from the wind in a square rigged vessel.
* * Jibing - to change from one tack to the other away from the wind, with the stern of the vessel turning through the wind.

Bark Tropic Bird 1876-1878. Captain Owen H. Tilton

Following the 26 month whaling voyage of the Bark Tropic Bird
Captain Owen H. Tilton
Leaving New Bedford Mass. May 2, 1876
Returning July 30, 1878

Stay tune for the first day of the voyage.