Log Book of the Ship Thorn, 1825-1826

Tuesday December 13th 1825

Remarks on board the ship Thorn

All these 24 hours light winds and pleasant weather. Saw whales. Struck 4. The irons draw from 3 of them and one sank.

Wednesday December 14th 1825

These 24 hours light winds and calm cloudy weather. Saw whales. Lowered and struck 2 and killed one and saved him and drawed from the other.

No observation.

Thirsday Decemver 15th 1825

First part moderate weather. Middle and latter part rugged. Saw whales to [too] rugged to chase.

Lat by obs 41–47 Long 43–00

Friday December 16th 1825

All these 24 hours moderate weather. Finished trying and stowed down the whale which makes 36 bls.

Lat 40–00

Saturday December 17th 1825

First part of these 24 hours light winds and calm. Latter part rugged. No whales in sight. Lat 41–12 Long 43–59

Sunday December 18th 1825

Remarks on board the Thorn

All these 24 hours rugged weather. Spoke the ship Bounben of Havre de Grace. Rafson master. Lat 40..26 Long 44–30

Monday Dec 19th 1826

These 24 hours light winds and good weather. Saw a plenty of whales. Killed 2. Sunk one and saved the other. No obs.

Tuesday December 20th 1825

First part pleasant weather. Struck one whale. She stove the boat. Cut from her. Latter part rugged whaling. Struck a whale. He took the line. Spoke the Fair Helline [Fair Helen]. 8 whales Lat 39–51

Wednesday December 21st 1825

All these 24 hours light winds and calm. Saw no whales. The water very blue. Stear [steer] SS West Lat 39–49

Thirsday December 22nd 1825

First part light winds and pleasant weather from the East. Stear SS West middle part. Cloudy. The wind to NN East. Latter part fresh winds at SS West at 8 AM discouler [discolor?] the water. Saw one right whale. Lowered the boats. Struck the whale. The iron drawed and lost him. Stear S West. No observation.

Saturday December 23rd 1825

These 24 hours good weather. Saw several whales at 7 [?]hr. Lowered the boats and killed a whale and cut him in.

Lat by obs 41–27 Long 45 . 30

Saturday December 24th 1825

First part fresh winds and rain. Employed in trying the wind SN West head West. Middle part light winds and foggy at WS W head S West. Latter part fresh winds and rugged from the S West head WN West. Saw several whales. Employed in trying. So ends.

Lat by obs 41–14 Long 45..45

Sunday December 25th 1825

First part fresh winds and rugged from the S West. Middle part light winds from the NW head NN East. Employed in trying. Latter part heavy gales and squaly with rain. Head N East employed in stowing down 70 bls.

Lat by DR 40.40 Long 44 30

Monday December 26th 1825

First part strong gales from the WS West. Latter part light winds and cloudy from SS West. Stear S East. Saw one whale and one sail. So ends.

Lat by obs 41–02 Long 44.00

Tuesday December 27th 1825

All these 24 hours light winds and cloudy with some rain. Spoke and English ship bound to [Calio?]. Saw several sperm[–] acity whales. Killed one. No obs Englishmans. Long 46–20

Wednesday Dec 28th 1825

All these 24 hours light winds and pleasant weather from the Eastward. Cut our whale. No observations this day.

Thirsday December 29th 1825

First part light winds and pleasant weather from the N East. Latter part fresh winds and cloudy from the North.

Lat by obs 40–30 Long 44–30

Friday December 30th 1825

First part fresh winds and rain from the North. Saw a plenty of whales. Lowered the boats and struck one. Could not kill him. Cut and let him go. Middle part strong gales and rain. Latter part clear weather from S West. Employed in trying sperm.

Lat by obs 20–12 Long 45 00

Saturday December 31st 1825

First part fresh winds and heavy sea from the S West. Latter part light winds and pleasant. Saw several whales. Killed one and cut him in. Saw 4 ships . Long by lunar 45–30

Sunday Jaunary 1st 1826

All these 24 hours light wind[s] and pleasant. Spoke the Hanniba[l] 15 whales. Saw several whales. Sun 2 Lat obs 39–59

Monday January 2nd 1826

These 24 hours light winds and some rain. Stowed down 95 bls right whale oil and 85 spermacity oil.

Thirsday January 3rd 1826

These 24 hours bad weather rain and fog. Saw nothing. No observation.

Wednesday January

First part light winds from the southward. Latter part calm fog and rain. Saw one whale.

Thirsday [Thursday] January 5th 1825 [1826]

First and middle part fresh winds and rain from the [south?]. Latter part light winds and clear from NW to S West. Saw nothing. Employed in mending the fore top sail.

Lat by obs 40–20 Long 44–30

Friday January 6th 1825 [1826]

These 24 hours light winds and pleasant. Saw 3 whales. Employed in mending the main sail.

Lat by obs 40 16 Long 40 00