Whaling Log of the Ship France, 1838-1840

Sunday July 19th 1840.

All of these 24 Hours strong breezes from the Eastward and Squally Steering by the wind to the N. & E untill 8 A. M. Steered to the Southward and should we fall to the leeward of Rotumak this time will give it up and make the best of our way to the South into variable winds from there to the Friendly Islands for recruits. So ends.

Latitude Obs. 10" 51. South. Longitude per watch 177" 59. E

Monday July 20th, 1840.

All of these 24 Hours fresh breezes and clear wind E by S. and Steering by the wind to the S. & E. untill 9 P. M tacked Ship to the North. at 12 Do. tacked to the South

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 12" 09. South. Longitude per watch 177" 35. East

Tuesday July 21th, 1840.

All of these 24 Hours pleasant breezes from the Eastward and fair weather tacking Ship once in 3 Hours untill Daylight then Steered off west for the Island untill meridian but Saw nothing haveing the appearance of Land we by our reckoning have been to the north South East, & West and it either does not exist or else our reckoning is sadly out of the way and be it as it it may will look for it no longer getting to the Eastward with the wind from there is out of the question so we now go to the South.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 12" 34. South. Longitude per watch 176" 43. East.

Wednesday July 22th 1840.

First part cloudy middle & Latter Hoursclear wind E by S Steering to the Southward.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 14" 18. South. Longitude per watch 176" 14. East.

An account of the Oil when & where Stowed on board Ship France at Sea. F. Egbert Howell master

AD. 1838. 9. 40. & 41.

Oil Stowed first Season.

Date Blls. where stowed 1838 Sperm Nov. 8th. 41 S.H L.F. " " 48 S.H L.F. " " 60 S.H S.F. " 16th 60 M.H S.A. Sperm " 25th 6 Hhds F.H L.A.3 of F. 3 of B " 25th 75 F.H L.A. Dec.11th 70 S.H S.A. " 11th 55 S.H S.F. " 17th 50 M.H S.A. " 21th 85 M.K S.F.

New Zealand

Oil Stowed Second Season 1839. 1839 June 1th 75 M.H. L.A. July 9th 60 M.H. S. A. Aug. 21th Sperm 68 M.H S.Y.L.Aft 5 Casks Head 9 Body Oct. 5th. 215 M.H LA " 11th 80 S.H L.F. " 17" 60 S.H L.F. " 19" 200 S.H. S.F. "23" 215 F.H L.A. "25. 100 M.H S.F. Nov. 2th 115 M.H S. Side " 9th. 45 F.H S. Side in ground "12 75 M.H S. Side " 12. 20 Sperm M.H S. Side 1 Pipe Head 3. Do. Body " 16. 67 F. H S. F

the Black List. AD. 1838. 9. 40. & 41.

Oct 25 1838 carried the Boatstearer up Darted and missed " 29th took 1 Sperm whale. lost the Head. Nov. 4th " 1 Right. Nov 10th Struck 1 whale with 2 Boats one of them drew and cut the others line off " 12th took 1. and lost 1 Pice by the Carcass Sinking " 17th Struck 6 Sperm whales and Saved 2. " 23dth took 1 Right whale. " 24th " 1 " " Dec. 5th Struck 1 " " and drew the Iron " 7th took 1 " " " 15th took 1 " " lost the Head and half the whale " 18th took 1 " " lost the Head " 20th Sunk 1 " " " 22th carried the Boatstearer up of the Larboard 2 [Bated?] missed " 29th Struck 1 and took the Line and went off " 30th Struck 1 with 2 Boats one of them drew and cut the others line off Jan 1th. found a Dead 1 cut him in. " 7th struck 2. 1 took the Line the other drew.

[Column 1]

Account of Ships Spoke

Sept. 24th 1838 " 25 " 26 Oct. 2th 1838 " "" 9th " 20th Nov. 7th " 11th " 15th " 16th " 16th " 16th " 26th " " " 28th Dec. 1th " 2th " 5th " 6th " " " 12th " 13th " 22th " 23dth " " " 26th Jan. 3dth

[Column 2]

Name of Ship

Ship Geo. Armata Marcus Meteor Connecticut Hudson Hamilton Main India Will Baker Meteor Barque Alexander [illegible] Richards Condor Fanny Connecticut Henery [illegible] Hoalgaraston Will Baker Phenix Columbia Meteor Louisa Barque Huron Connecticut Barque Noble Hamilton Fanny

[Column 3]

Where from

Sag Harbor New London Sag Harbor Groton N. London Sag Harbor Bridge Port Fair Haven New Bedford Warren Groton Hudson Salem N. Bedford Sag Harbor N. London Sag Harbor Salem Warren Sag Harbor Groton Lynn Hudson N. London James Port Bridge Port Sag Harbor

[Column 4]

Commander

Ludlow Pevidy Glover Lester Crocker Green Brown unknown Luce Sanford Lester Douglass Williams Harding Edwards Crocker J. Sweeny unknown Sanford E. Topping F. Pierson Lester Wolley Ballad Crocker J. Sayre Brown Edwards

[Column 5]

quantity of Oil

00 Sp 200 00 4 wh 2 wh 1 wh 1 wh 00 Sp 90 Sp 170 4 wh 2 wh 2 wh 1 wh 4 wh 2 wh 4 wh 7 wh 2 wh 6 wh 1 wh 11 wh 2 wh 00 4 wh 7wh 1,000 bls 11 wh

[Column 6]

Latitude South

35" 38. 35" 23 35" 30 34" 29 " " 35" 41 34" 44 34" 28 35" 24 35" 30 35" 20 " " " " 35" 54 " " 36" 06 36" 57 37" 06 36" 20 35" 55 " " 36" 22 36" 09 36" 15 " " " " 36" 20 35" 48

[Column 7]

Longitude west

24" 55 24" 48 24" 00 20" 23 " " 24" 10 22" 02 18" 03 24" 01 23" 26 23" 28 " " " " 23" 38 " " 24" 32 23" 27 23" 17 25" 20 25" 02 " " 24" 52 24" 50 25" 35 " " " " 25" 13 25" 32