Whaling Log of the Ship France, 1838-1840

Sunday, Sept. 30th 1838.

Co____ces with fresh gales from the northward and cloudy with Rain at 4 A. M. more moderate and clear the wind hauling to the west from that to W. S. W. at 5 Do. made sail steering by the wind to the southward untill 10 Do. Tacked ship to the N W. at 11 Do. saw 2 Right whales lowered chaised but could not fasten took up the boats and hauled by the wind to the southward at 2 P. M. passed large Flocks of whale Birds Feeding on the water at 4 Do. Tacked to the N W. Saw 1 Right whale Feeding lowed chaised but without success at 6 Do. took up the Boats and took in sail heading N. W.

middle & Latter Hours moderate and clear.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 34" 04 South. Longitude per. watch 20" 22 west.

Monday Oct. 1th 1838.

Commences with moderate breezes from the west heading to the southward. at 4 A. M. the wind veering to the northward Tacked ship to the Eastward. at 5 Do. made sail steering to the E. N. E. at 8 Do saw several Fin backs at 10 Do. saw 1 Right whale lowered chaised but could not fasten at meridian Tacked ship steering by the wind to the west. middle & Latter Hours cloudy with light Rain at 6 P. M. Double Reefed the Top sails in order to hold on to the N. & W. for the night

So ends water Blue

Latitude Obs. 34" 08 South. Longitude per. watch 19" 58 west.

Tuesday Oct. 2th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours moderate breezes and cloudy wind N N E steered by the wind to the west saw several Fin backs. at 9 Do. stood off south at meridian saw 1 Right whale feeding Started him with the ship we then hauled by the wind to the Eastward untill 2 P. M. steered off S. S. E. spoke ship Meteor of Grotton 4 whales. Saw not the spout of a R whale this Day. so ends

Latitude Obs. 34" 29 South. Long. per watch 20" 23 west.

Wednesday, Oct. 3dth 1838.

Commences with fresh gales from the northward and cloudy attended with Rain ship lying too Heading to the westward. at 3 A. M. had the waist Boat stove by a sea on the cranes took her in and commenced Repairing her.

Middle & Latter Hours more moderate set whol Top Sails & Top Gallant Sails at 3 P. M. wore ship to the Eastward at 7 Do. shortened sail for the night heading E. N. E. saw not the spout of a whale this Day water green few or no Birds

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 37 South. Longitude per. watch 20" 08 w

Thursday, Oct. 4th 1838.

Commences with moderate breezes from the north and squally attended with light Rain.

at 5 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the westward. at 7 Do. calm at 10 Do. the wind hauled round to the South steered to the N. & West middle & Latter Hours clear at 1 P. M. Tacked ship to the S. & E. at 2 Do. saw 1 Right whale going fast N. N. W. down Boats and chaised but without success took up the Boats and steered to the S. & E. Saw large quantities of whale Birds but no more whales water green at 7 P. M. shortened sail Heading E. by S.

So ends

Latitude Obs. 35" 28 South. Longitude per. watch 20" 11 w

Friday, Oct. 5th 1838.

Commences with fresh gales from the SW and squally at 7 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the S. & E. untill 2 P. M. more moderate wore ship to the N. & W. saw but few whale Birds but any quantity of Horses and 1 Fin back whale water green. at 7 P. M. moderate carried whole Top Sails through to the night N. & W.

So ends

Latitude Obs. 35" 28 South. Longitude per watch 19" 15 west.

Saturday, Oct. 6th 1838.

Commences with strong breezes from the S. & W. steering by the wind to the N. & W. at 2 A. M. the wind hauled to the northward Tacked ship to the S. & W. middle Hours fresh gales and clear Latter Hours cloudy saw not the spout of a whale this Day but large quantities of whale Birds no Gonies nor Haglets water green

So ends with carrying sail through the night to the west.

Latitude Obs. 35" 29 South. Longitude per. watch 20" 21 w

Sunday, Oct. 7th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours strong gales and squally attended with showers of Rain wind N W. by N. steering to the west saw no whales but a [ny?] quantity of Birds. no Fowls. water green.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 55 South. Longitude per. watch 21" 28.

Monday, Oct. 8th 1838.

Commences with strong gales from the NW. and squally attended with Rain at 4 A. M. more moderate the wind hauling to the South. Tacked ship to the westward.

Middle Hours light winds.

Latter Hours strong carrying sail through the night steering W. N. W. Saw several spouts this day but none having the appearance of Right Whales. many Birds & [horses?] water green

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 36" 29. South. Longitude per watch 22" 01 w

Tuesday, Oct. 9th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours strong breezes from the southward and clear steering W. N. W. untill 2 P. M. steered of NE at 4 Do. spoke ship Hudson of Sag Harbor H. [Green?] master. 1 whale saw several Fin backs some Feed but no Right whales water green so ends.

Latitude 35" 41 South. Longitude per watch 24" 10 west.

Wednesday, Oct. 10th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours moderate breezes first part from the south middle & Latter Hours the wind veered to E. S. E. at 5 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the Eastward. at 11 Do. Tacked ship to the west. Latter Hours steered to the south Saw 1 Right whale chaised but could not fasten Saw several Fin backs few Birds no Fowls water green. 2 ships in sight one of them the Hudson at 7 P. M. took in sail Heading S. by E.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 20. South. Longitude per watch 24" 45 west.

Thursday, Oct. 11th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours fresh breezes and and squally steering N W. by W. at 10 Do. passed ship Hydaspe of New Bedford at 4 P. M. saw the Hudson steer of SW. at 5 Do. saw 2 Right whales Feeding chaised them but without success at 7 Do. took in sail Heading NW.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 34" 42. South. Longitude per. watch 25" 51 west.

Friday, Oct. 12th 1838.

Commences with strong breezes from the N. N. E. and cloudy at 5 A. M. set the Top Sails double Reefed steering by the wind to the Eastward untill 8 Do. Tacked ship to the N W. at 9 Do. fresh gales with Rain took in sail at 1 P. M. more moderate set the Top sails close Reefed saw 1 whale ran for him but saw him no more at 4 P. M. strong gales took in sail heading W. N. W. at 8 Do. wore ship to the Eastward

So ends no Birds but few Fowls.

water green.

Latitude Obs. 34" 50 South. Long. by rec. 26" 34. west.

Saturday Oct. 13th 1838.

Commences with strong gales from the northward attended with Rain ship lying too Heading w. by n. at 8 A. M. wore ship to the Eastward at 2 P. M. more moderate the wind shifted suddenly to the southward attended with Rain at 7 Do. Tacked ship to the Eastward saw nothing remarkable this Day. water green

few Fowls. So ends.

Latitude by rec. 35" 10 South. Long by rec. 26" 25 south.

Sunday Oct. 14th 1838.

Com___ces with light winds from the southward attended with Rain. at 5 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the west. at 8 Do. Tacked ship to the Eastward at meridian the wind hauling to the northward ship heading to the Eastward saw nothing this Day. water green.

So ends with Rain.

Sun Obscure. Latitude by rec. 34" 40. South. Long by rec. 26" 00 w.

Monday, Oct. 15th 1838.

Commences with light winds from the northward and thick weather attended with Rain at 6 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the westward. at 10 cleared off the wind hauled to the west Tacked ship to the N. & E. at meridian Tacked ship and steered S. S. W. Saw a ship steering to the N. & E.

Middle & Latter Hours strong breezes sent the Fore Top Gallant mast down and sent up another at 7 P. M. took in sailing heading S S. W.

Saw not the spout of a whale this Day water green

no Birds few Fowls.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 33" 34. South. Longitude per. watch 25" 41 w