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

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

Twelfth week (3 months) at sea. July 17th to July 23, 1876

Monday July th/17
Com - with strong wind from W.S.W. Stearing
E.S.E. weather pleasant at sundown lufed to the wind
heading S at 5 AM kept off E.N.E. had strong
wind from W.S.W.
Lat 36-16 N Lon 45-39 W

Tuesday July th/18
Begins with pleasant weather and strong wind
at two P.M. lufed to the wind heading S.S.E.
two sail in sight Lat part strong wind saw
three whalers at 9 AM spoke Bark Swallow - Ellis
with 481 bls the Capt went on board for a
short time
Lat 36-25 Lon 45-37 W
[Bark, Swallow, Capt. Thomas L. Ellis, p. 65 Starbucks]

Wednesday July th/19
Begins with strong wind and hazy weather
standing to the S.W. under topsails at sundown
shortened sail for the night Lat part light
wind and pleasant weather heading to westward
saw nothing
Lat 34-50 N Lon 45-35 W

Thursday July th/20
Com - with pleasant weather and light wind
from N. ship heading W.N.W. at sundown
took in light sails Lat part Calm sent down
fore topsail and repaired it
Lat 34-33 N Lon 45-57 W

Friday July th/21
Com - with Calm and pleasant weather sent
down Main topgallant sail and repaired it
Lat part squally with thunder and rain
stearing North saw grampases
Lat 35-25 N Lon 46-08 W

Saturday July th/22
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind from
E stearing N. nothing in sight Lat part light
wind from S Stearing N. saw a whaler heading
to S. E.
Lat 36-20 N Lon 46-22 W

Sunday July th/23
Begins with pleasant weather and wind from S
heading W.S.W. on the wind Lat part weather
the same wind from SS.W. saw one sail
Lat 36-28 N Lon 45-41 W

Eleven weeks at sea. July 10 to July 16, 1876

Monday, July th/10
Begins with Strong wind and squally at
7 PM wore ship heading N.W. by W. saw black
fish Lat part blowing with squalls of wind
and rain wore ship at 6 AM. saw a
brig going to East.
Lat 35-26 N Lon 50-10 W
[black fish - possibly pilot whale or right whale]


Tuesday July th/11
Com - with strong wind from W.S.W ship
heading S.E. with rain ship under Close reefed
Main topsail reefed foresail fore topmast staysail
and main spencer Lat part wind and weather
the same at 11 1/2 AM wind let go one sail
in sight
Lat 35-08 N Lon 49-27 W


Wednesday July th/12
Begins with Calm and cloudy weather with a
little rain at 5 1/2 P.M. the captain went on board
the A. Hicks. Mid part rainy at 10 AM Cleared
up Stearing N.W. wind from NE.
Lat 35-26 N Lon 50-18 W


Thursday July th/13
Begins with pleasant weather and wind from E.
ship on the wind heading N. the Hicks in sight
Last part Calm with pleasant weather one
sail in sight.
Lat 36-24 N Lon 50-50 W


Friday July th14
Begins with pleasant weather and Calm nothing
in sight Lat part weather the same with light
wind from S.W. heading S.E. by S sent down
Main topsail and repaired it. Saw Blackfish
Lat 36-08 N Lon 50-48 W


Saturday July th/15
Com - with cloudy weather wind from S.W.
stearing full and by on starboard tack
Lat part weather Clear at 7 AM spoke Bark
Sparten from Barbadoes had taken 65 bls. oil [unable to identify vessel]
kept to N.W. on the wind
Lat 25-56 N Lon 50-28 W


Sunday July th/16
Com - with pleasant weather and fine wind from
W.S.W. kept off East. saw a steamer going East
at sundown. lufed to heading to the S. at 5 AM kept
off stearing E.N.E. signaled Bark Niphon of Bath [Bath, Maine]
heading to the south
Lat 36-00 N Lon 48-08 W
[Vessel: Niphon (bark) Master: Day
Register: Record of American and Foreign Shipping, 1876 can be seen here.

Ten weeks at sea. July 3 to July 9, 1876

Monday July th/3
Begins with Cloudy weather and light wind from SSW.
searing E by S half S. Lat part weather the same
Saw a sail to East. employed setting up topmast
riging. Stearing E. wind from. S.W.
Lat 32.29 N Lon 54-07 W

Tuesday July th/4
Begins with light wind from W. Stearing E.
weather pleasant one sail in sight
Lat Part weather much the same nothing
in sight
Lat 32-55 N Lon 52-30 W

Wednesday July th/5
First part pleasant weather and light wind
from W. stearing west Lat part weather the
same saw one sail. going to N.W. ship stearing
E. crew employed about the ship as usual
Lat 33-12 N Lon 50 39 W

Thursday July th/6
Com with pleasant weather and light wind from W
Stearing E at 3 PM lufed to the wind heading N by W
Lat part a little squally with rain wind from W.
Lat 34-32 N Lon 51-52 W

Friday July 7
Begins with pleasant weather, and wind from N.W
Stearing N.E. saw one sail Stearing to South
Lat part weather much the same saw one sail
towards noon breezed up a little
Lat 35-55 N Lon W (no Lon)

Saturday July th/8
Begins with pleasant weather and fine wind from
S.W. saw white watter ran off but saw nothing more
at 4 P.M. spoke and gamed the A. Hicks West Port
Lat part strong wind from S.W. ship heading to S.S.E.
Lat 35-30 N Lon 49-49. W.
[Speak (spoke): v., to communicate with another ship using flags or voice (as opposed to gamming) http://www.powermobydick.com/Moby138.html#G
[Bark, A. (Andrew) Hicks, of Westport, Mass., p. 644 Starbucks

Sunday July th/9
Com- with strong wind and pleasant weather
at 2 P.M. wore ship heading W.N.W. one sail
in sight Lat part Strong wind with squally
weather and some rain wore ship at 9 AM
heading S.
Lat 35-40 N Lon 50-25 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

"The monotony of a logbook."

In a chapter titled Characteristics of Logbooks, Stewart C. Sherman describes the typical logbook this way.

Typical day by day entries [in a logbook] provide pretty dull reading and only occasionally is the dullness relieved by something eventful. The monotony of a logbook simply reflects the monotony with which one day followed another. Whaleman faced hardship and danger so often that even the logbook entries describing them were casual and off-handed.

The Voice of the Whaleman, With an Account of the Nicholson Whaling Collecton, Stewart C. Sherman, 1965, Providence Public Library, Providence RI.

The monotony of a logbook simply reflects the monotony with which one day followed another.

Although this can surely be true what is also true is the excitement you will likely get from the historical nuggets you will find in the next passage or the next day's logbook entry. So please...read on...read on.

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

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.

Second week at sea. May 7 to May 13 1876.

Sunday May th/7
Com- with light winds Ship heading S E.
with light rain Saw one sail and a Fin
Back. Lat-part light wind with a little
rain. Saw two sail Ship heading SE.
Lat 36-31 N Lon 71-28 W

Monday May th/8
Com'd with wind from S.S.W._ Ship heading
S.E. two sail in sight. at two PM Saw
Blackfish Mid part Strong wind heading
S.S.E. Lat part the same engaged piling
whaling gear
Lat 35-03 N Lon 69-32 W

Tuesday May th/9
Begins with pleasant weather and wind
from SW. Saw Fin Backs at 6 PM Tacked
to the Westward Lat part Strong wind Sat[saw]a
Brig abandond and on fire Main mast gone
supposed the crew had been taken off
Lat 34-30 N Lon 69 22 W

Wednesday May th/10
Begins with Strong wind from S Ship
heading to W Mid part blowing Strong
Lat part the same Ship under reefed Main top
sail and foresail heading to Eastward
Lat 34-16 N Lon 69-38 E

Thursday May th/11
Begins with Strong wind from S heading to E.
at 6 PM tacked to Westward weather much
the same Lat part wind light Stearing S.W. by W.
saw four sail engaged Setting up Main riging
Lat 33-32 N Lon 69-20 W

Friday May th/12
Begins with wind from N.W. and Cloudy weather
Stearing W.S.W. Saw two Sail. Lat part pleasant
weather and light wind from N. Stearing the
same saw two Sail
Lat 32 44 N Lon 71-21 W.

Saturday May th/13
Begins with pleasant weather and light wind
from E. Saw nothing engaged braking out
Lat part much the same weather with light
veriable winds saw nothing working to the West
Lat 31-45 N Lon 72-54 W

Sea-Fever

By John Masefield (1878-1967)

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.