Whaling Log of the Ship France, 1838-1840

Tuesday Oct. 16th 1838.

Commences with strong breezes from the west and clear at 6 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the southward at 9 Do. saw 3 Right whales going in w. s. w. at 10 Do. Tacked ship to the northward spoke ship Ann of Sag Harbor Bishop master. 2 whales likewise Barque Franklin E. Griffing master quantity of Oil not known

Middle & Latter Hours fresh gales took in sail Heading n. n. w. saw a plenty of whale Birds no Fowls

water green. So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 09. South. Longitude per. watch 25" 43 w

Wednesday Oct. 17th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours strong breezes from the w. n. w. and fair weather. at 5 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the sw. untill 7 Do. Tacked ship to the n. & E. at 8 Do. passed the Ann steering to the s. & w the first part of these 24 Hours saw a great many whale Birds. Latter Hours none at all but many Fin Backs no Right whales water green Hands employed in Repairing a spar main Top Sails

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 34" 38 South. Longitude per. watch 24" 44 w

Thursday Oct. 18th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours fresh breezes and a large swell from the west steering n. n. E. untill 6. A. M. found ourselves in Blue water Tacked ship and steered S E. by S. until 2 P. M. Steered SE by E. at 6 Do. hauled up south carrying sail throug the night.

this Day set up the main Rigging & Top mast Back stays. saw 2 Fin Backs no Birds nor Fowls. at 6 A. M. Lattitude 33" 10 South. Long. 23" 40 west.

Friday, October 19th 1838.

Commences with light breezes from the west Steering South at 4 A.M. The wind hauled to the Southward. Ship heading off to E.S.E. Middle & Latter Hours light Airs and pleasant Saw a Ship to the East of us Boiling. Hands employed in repairing a spar. Fore Top Sail. Saw nothing but Sulpher Bottom Whales this Day

No Birds. So ends.

Latitude Obs. 33"34' South. Longitude per watch 22"25' West.

Saturday, October 20th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours fresh breezes form the E.S.E. and cloudy. Steering by the wind to the northward at 7 A.M. Tacked Ship to the Southward Saw a Barque Ship Steering to the northward at 9 Do Saw 2 Ships to the west of us whaling. Steered off for them. Saw them Start 6 Right whales at 10 Do Saw 1 going fast lowered for him but without Success at 1 P.M. Spoke Ships Hamilton of Bridge Port Brown Master Boiling his first whale. Saw the Connecticut of New London, quantity of oil not known at 2 Do. hauled by the winds to the north untill 3. Tacked to the South. Saw a Ship Steering to the NW at 10. at 7 Do. took in Sail heading S. by E. The whales appear to be feeding and [?Slapy?] water green.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 34"44' South. Longitude per watch 22"02' West.

Sunday, October 21th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours moderate breezes form the E.S.E. first with light Rain. Steering by the wind to the Northward at 11 Do. Tacked Ship to the Southward at 1 P.M. Tacked to the N.&.E. Middle &. Latter Hours clear at 7 P.M. double Reefed the Top Sails carrying Sail through the night to the N.&.E. Saw and Right Whales Barren Ground

[?Coat?] Stay. So ends.

Latitude Obs. 34"50' South. Longitude per watch 22"16' West.

Monday Oct. 22th 1838.

Commences with moderate breezes from the Eastward and squally at 2 A. M. Tacked ship to the S. & W. at 7 Do. Saw 1 Right whale going fast to the north at 9 Do. the wind veering to the north Tacked to the N. & E we then in green water at 10 Do. in Blue we then hauled in E. S. E. at 2 P. M. green water again at 5 Do.

Saw Several Fin backs but no other water green and lively ground Birds & Fowls at 7 Do. took in Sail Heading to the Eastward

So ends.

Latitude obs. 34" .07 South, Longitude per watch 20" 50

Tuesday Oct. 23d th. 1838

All of these 24 Hours fresh breezes from the N. W. first part squally at 5 A. M. made Sail Steering by the wind to the west. At 7 Do. wore ship to the N E. at 9 Do. steered of S E. untill 1 P. M. Hauled in N E untill 2 then Tacked ship and steered S W. through the night

middle & Latter Hours clear saw not the spout of a whale this Day water Blue plenty of Fowls

So ends.

Latitude Obs 34" 18. South. Longitude per watch 19" 45 W.

Wednesday Oct. 24th 1838

Commences with light breezes from the N W. and pleasant steering S W. untill 4 A.M. the wind hauled in to S. W. ship Heading off to South. middle Hours the Same.

Latter Hours the wind hauled back W. N. W. and pleasant through the Day Saw large Flocks of whale Birds Feeding on the water and a few Fin Backs but no other Land Fowls

so ends with carrying Sail through the night to the SW.

Latitude Obs. 35" 47. South. Longitude per. watch 20" 13. West

Thursday oct. 25th 1838.

The first & middle part of these 24 Hours light breezes from the W. N. W. and pleasant steering by the wind to the S. & W. untill 9 A. M. steered off S. S. E. water green at meridian saw several Fin Backs at 3 P. M. Saw 1 Right whale lowered the Boats carried one of the Boat steerers up darted and missed chaised the whale off took up the Boats the whale came back to the ship again down Boats again but could not fasten took them up and the whale came immediately back again down and after him again but without success Latter Hours the wind hauled back to the north and cloudy at 7 P. M. wore ship and took in Sail heading E. by N. water Blue no Birds but many Ho[?]

So ends

Latitude Obs. 37" 32 South. Longitude per. watch 19" 26 West

Friday Oct. 26th 1838.

Commences with strong breezes from the northward attended with light Rain at 7 A. M. Set the Top Sails double Reefed steering by the wind to the westward at 8 Do. Tacked ship to the Eastward at 1 P. M. the gale increaseing took in Sail and set the [Spacers?] saw not the spout if a whale this Day.

So ends.

Sun Obscure. Lattitude by rec. 37" 40. South. Long. by rec. 19" 40 west.

Saturday Oct. 27th 1838.

Commences with strong gales from the northward ship heading to the Eastward at 2 A. M. the wind hauled to the westward Tacked ship to the N. & E. middle & Latter Hours more moderate set the Top sails double Reefed and wore ship to the Southward. at 4 P. M. set whole Top sails while Hositing up the main Top sail yard the [Lee?] parted down came the yard and broke into in the Slings unbent the sail and sent them both down and striped the yard. Saw 2 Fin backs but no other.

So ends.

Latitude obs. 37" 04. South. Longitude per. watch 19" 04. west

Sunday Oct. 28th 1838.

Commences with strong gales from the northward steering by the wind to the westward at Daylight commenced fitting a spare Top sail yard at 2 P. M. finished and sent it up and bent the Sail at 3 Do. took in Sail. at 4 Do. more moderate the wind hauling to the west ship Heading off to SW. by S. at Sun set saw 2 Right whales lowered for them it being Dark before the Boats got there did not strike took up the Boats and braced foward heading SW. by S. those whale appeared to be at Home and Feeding under water. but few Fowls & scatering whale Birds. water green.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 37" 20 South. Long. by Rec. 19" 45. west.

Monday Oct. 29th 1838.

All of those 24 Hours moderate breezes first from the west at 4 A. M. made sail steering by the wind to the nw. at 7 Do. Tacked ship to the S. & E. at 8 Do. saw 1 Right whale lowered chaised but could not fasten took up the Boats and steered to the S. & E. middle Hours the wind from the W. N. W. Tacked ship to the N. & E. at 5 P. M. saw several sperm & Right & whales sent 2 after the Former 2 after the Latter struck one Sperm whale and killed him took him alongside and lay by him through the night but started the Right whales. So ends.

Latitude Obs. 37" 35. South. Longitude per watch 19" 30. west.