Whaling Log of the Ship France, 1838-1840

Wednesday, Sept. 12th. 1838.

Commences with moderate Trade winds from the S E and clear.

Middle & Latter strong and cloudy steering S. S. W Hands employed in various jobs of Ships Duty.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 06" 23 South. Longitude per watch 21" 10 W

Thursday, Sept. 13th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours fresh Trades from the S E. and pleasant steering S. S. W.

Carpenter employed in sawing out Boards for Bungs Hands in knotting yarns and making spun yarn for Bone

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 09" 09. South. Longitude per. watch 22" 02 west.

Friday, Sept. 14th, 1838.

Throught these 24 Hours strong SE Trades and fair weather steering S. S. W. at 7 A. M. carried away the Martingale Guys. Hands employed in repairing damages &. &.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 11" 44. South. Longitude per watch 22" 42.

Saturday, Sept. 15th, 1838.

Commences with strong Trades from the S E. and pleasant.

Middle & Latter Hours Fresh gales steering S. S. W. saw a Bark ship steering to the South.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 15" 16 South. Longitude per. watch 23" 52 west.

Sunday, Sept. 16th, 1838.

Throught these 24 Hours fresh gales from the E. S. E. and squally steering S S W. at 6 P. M. carried away the Fore Royal yard sent it down and unbent the Sail. So ends.

Latitude Obs. 18" 31. South. Longitude per. watch 24" 36 west.

Monday, Sept. 17th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours strong gales and squally attended with wind & Rain. wind E by S steering S. S. W.

Hand employed in knotting yarns and braiding [senate?]

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 21" 23 South. Longitude per watch 26" 32 west

Tuesday, Sept. 18th 1838.

Commences with fresh gales and squally wind E. by S. steering S. S. W.

middle Hours the same.

Latter clear and more moderate.

Hands employed in various jobs of ships Duty.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 25" 36 South. Longitude per. watch 27" 05 west

Wednesday, 19th 1838

Commences with moderate gales from the Eastward steering S S. W.

middle & Latter Hours more moderate and pleasant turned the Fore Top mast Back stays & Top mast Rigging and set it up

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 28" 27 South. Longitude per. watch 26" 55 west

Thursday, Sept. 20th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours moderate breezes and pleasant weather wind E. by S. steering S. S. W. untill 4 P. M. steered south. Saw several gonies & Black Haglets. at 3 A. M. found our Fore Top gallant mast sprung set down the yard & mast and sent up another.

Hands employed in various jobs of ships Duty

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 30" 07 South. Longitude per. watch 27" 15.

Friday Sept 21th 1838

Commences with moderate breezes from the Eastward and pleasant steering South Middle & Latter Hours the wind hauled to the N E. Saw a Ship Steering to the Eastward this Day Sent down Royal yards masts Steering & Sail [Bovns?] likewise Main Sail and bent another. Hands employed in Repairing a Spare Fore Top Sail and fitting the Caboose & & this ground has every appearance of being barren water Blue no Birds nor Fowls.

So ends

Latitude Obs. 32" 12 South. Longitude Per. Watch. 25" 55 West

Saturday Sept. 22th, 1838.

Commences with fresh breeze from th. NE and Cloudy Steering South untill 2 P. M. Steered SW. Middle & Latter Hours fresh Gales with Rain the wind veering to the north at Daylight found ourselves in green water Saw 1 Fin back whale few or no Birds.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 33" 33 South Longitude by acc. 28" 17. west.

Sunday Sept 23dth, 1838.

Commences with Civil account reckoning from midnight to midnight with Fog & Rain wind NW Steering by the wind to the SW untill 2 P. M. Steered of SE. Saw not the Spout of a whale this day water green and few Birds Such as Speek Haglets the ground looks barren and Shall leave it for better or for worse and go farther East.

So ends.

Latitude Obs 33" 19. South Longitude per Watch 26" 52 w

Monday, Sept. 24th 1838.

Commences with fresh gales from the N. W. steering SE. untill 1 A. M. steered East at 4 Do. strong gales at 6 Do. spoke ship [Geon?] Ludlow master no oil but had chaised 2 Right whales the Day before at 7 Do took in sail heading W. by N. at 2 P. M. more moderate set the Top Sails steering by the wind to the west. at sun set saw 2 Right whales 2 miles to the windward it being late could not get to them.

at 7 P. M. took in sail and wore ship Heading SE by S.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 38 South. Longitude per. watch 24" 55 west.

Tuesday, Sept. 25th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours fresh breezes from the NW and cloudy. at 5 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the westward. at 8 Do. Tacked ship to the S. & E. at 2 P. M spoke ship Armata of New London Pevidy master no oil at 3 Do. steered of E. N. E. untill 8 and took in sail heading N W. by W. Saw not the spout of a whale this Day. Hands employed in making Bungs So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 23 South. Longitude per. watch 24" 48 w

Wednesday, Sept. 26th 1838.

Commences with fresh breezes and cloudy wind W. by W. at Daylight made sail and steered of E. N. E. at 10 A. M. saw 1 Right whale lowered and chaised but without success middle & Latter Hours squally with Rain at 2 P. M. the wind shifted suddenly to the Southwest at 3 Do. spoke ship Marcus of Sag Harbor. B. Glover master no oil. Saw 2 more ships to the East of us at 6 P. M. took in sail Heading E. S. E.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 30 South. Longitude by rec. 24 00 west.

Thursday, Sept. 27th 1838.

Commences with fresh gales from the south Heading E. S E. at 2 A. M. passed a ship Boiling middle & Latter Hours strong gales and squally with Rain at 1 P. M. took in the Fore Sail and close Reefed the main Top Sail and set the spenecrs. this Day saw many whale Birds likewise gonies and Blk. Haglets. water green

2 ships in sight.

So ends

Latitude Obs. 34" 42 South. Longitude per. watch 22" 55

Friday Sept. 28th 1838.

Commences with fresh gales from the southward lying too Heading E. S. E.

at 5 A. M. more moderate made sail set whole Top Sails & Top Sails & Top Gallant sails steering by the wind to the S E. at 9 Do. saw several Fin backs. at 10 Do. Tacked ship to the N W.

middle Hours light airs and cloudy.

Latter moderate breezes at 6 P. M. took in the Top gallant sails throught the night steering N. W. saw but few whale Birds & gonies many Horses

water green So ends.

Latitude Obs. 34" 59 South. Longitude per. watch 20" 30 west

Saturday Sept. 29th 1838.

Commences with strong breezes from the northward and cloudy at 5 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the N E. untill 10 A. M. steered off S E by S at meridian strong gales steered S E by E. at 2 P. M. unbent the main Top Sail and bent a new one. at 4 Do thick with Rain took in sail Heading N E by E. Saw some Red whale feed but no whales few or no Birds.

So ends.

Latitude by rec. 35" 24 South. Longitude per. rec. 19" 56 west.