30625990000246_054

Iris off the coast of Kamtschatka [KAMCHATKA]

Remarks on board

Wednesday June 11th 1845 All of this 24 hours we have the wind from the Southward attended with a thick fog. Steer North all day with short sail. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 46°=58" N Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 163°=03" East

Thursday June 12th Commences with a thick fogg [FOG] and wind from the Southward. At 1 PM the weather clearing a little. Wind the same. Saw whales. Struck with all three boats but was obliged to cut for the fog which came on verry [VERY] quick and verry [VERY] thick. Lost sight of the ship for about an hour. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] by DR [DEAD RECKONING] 46°=57" N Long [LONGITUDE] by DR [DEAD RECKONING] 162°=09" East [VERTICAL TEXT IN THE LEFT MARGIN: Cut in the fogg]

Friday June 13th All of this 24 hours we have strong gales from the Southward with a thick fogg [FOG] with a thick. Ship under a close reefed main top sail and fore sail. Saw whales near the ship several times. Wear ship as occasion requires to keep among them. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 46=55" N Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 162=20" East

Saturday June 14th This 24 hours we have fresh breezes and a thick fogg [FOG] from the Southward and rain the most of the time. Saw two sail[S]. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 46 50" N Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 162°=10" East [A PENCIL DRAWING OF A BLEEDING WHALE'S TAIL IS IN THE LEFT MARGIN]

Sunday June 15th and not a d---d [DAMNED] drop of oil yet. Comes in with fresh gales from the South attended with rain all day. Saw plenty of whales. Lowered and struck two, killing one with the harpoon but lost them both by the harpoon breaking from both whales at the same time. At 6 PM the weather clears with the wind N Westerly. Thus ends the evening of this day etc. [VERTICAL TEXT IN THE LEFT MARGIN: Hard luck Broke the irons from two whales one spouting blood]

Monday June 16th All of this day we have fine weather. Wind from the NW. At 4 in the morning lowered for whales but could not strike. Afterwards struck two, one of which took the line. The irons drawing from the other. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] [44 47 CROSSED OUT] 47°=44" North Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 162°=24" East