Telegraph Whaling Log, 1834-1836

Ship Telegraph bound towards Cape Horn

Sunday Feb 15th 1834 [1835] Commences with strong gales from the S & West Spoke Ship Planter of New Bedford 150 bbls of Sperm oil At 5 P.M. wore ship to the West Took in the Fore Top sail Jib and close reefed Main & Mizen [MIZZEN] Middle hours more moderate. The wind hauling to the S.E. Steering West. So ends Saw a plenty of whale birds this day. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 51..41 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38..01 S

Monday Feb 16th 1834 [1835] Commences with fresh gales from the S & East The wind veering [A]round to the Northward. Steering WSW. This day saw several fin Back [FINBACK] whales and a great many birds Saw a ship steering to the WSW Hands employed this day in breaking out between decks and stowing things to there [THEIR] proper places coopering bread and sundry [...] So ends this day 1 man off duty. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 53..40 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38 23 South

Tuesday Feb 17th 1834 [1835] Throught [THROUGHOUT] these 24 hours pleasant breezes from the N & W and fair weather Steering SW by W untill [UNTIL] 8 AM steered S.S.W Saw several fin Back [FINBACK] whales this day So ends this day Sent down Fore & Mizen [MIZZEN] Royal yards & masts and sent up stumps. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 58..16 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38..52 South

Ship Telegraph Bound towards Cape Horn

Wednesday Feb 18th 1834 [1835] Commences with with pleasant breezes and fair weather. The wind N by W Steering SW by S untill [UNTIL] 8 A.M. steered S by W Saw not the spout of a whale this day Middle & latter hours cloudy Unbent the main sail and pointed it Bent it again So ends this day 2 men off duty Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 58..03 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 40..14 So [SOUTH]

Thursday Feb 19th 1834 [1835] Commences with pleasant breezes from the NW. and clear Steering SW by S untill [UNTIL] 9 A.M Steered out to the SE Middle & latter hours foggy The wind hauling [A]round to the SW from that to S.S.E. At 10 A.M. tacked ship to the S & W Saw several finback whale[S] a large quanitity of birds in tide rips. This day unbent the Fore [...] Repaired it and bent a new one So ends this day 2 men off duty. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 58..01 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 40..53 South

Friday Feb 20th 1834 [1835] Commences with moderate breezes from the West and pleasant weather Steering to the South Middle & latter hours calm At 11 A.M took a breeze from the NW Steering SW by So [SOUTH] Saw several finback whales this day So ends 2 men off duty. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 58..34 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 42..03 S

Saturday Feb 21th [21ST] 1834 [1835] Commences with strong gales from the NW. Took in the Top Gallant sails and double reefed the Top sails Steering SW by S. At 5 P.M. saw several Right whales At 7 Do [DITTO = P.M.] took in sails and luffed too [TO] heading to the West At 12 midnight tacked to the S & E Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 42.09 Sou [SOUTH] Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 58..38 W Latter hours strong gales and squally

Ship Telegraph bound [A]round Cape Horn.

Sunday Feb 22th [22ND] 1834 [1835] Commences with strong gales from the NW and squally The wind hauling to the S & W Saw several Right whales this day Middle & latter hours more moderate Set the Top sail double reefed Steering W.N.W So ends this day 3 men off duty Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 59..01 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 42..26

Monday Feb 23dth 1834 [1835] Commences with moderate breezes from the S & W and clear Steering to the S & E. At 8 P.M. took in sail Heading to the S & E At 12 midnight tacked ship to the S & W. At 5 A.M. made sail and steered in SSW Saw not the spout of a Right whale this day So ends 1 man off duty Hands employed in picking oakum & braiding sinnet. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 59..22 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 41..51 South

Tuesday Feb 24th 1834 [1835] All of these 24 hours moderate breezes from the N & W and pleasant weather Heading to the S & E untill [UNTIL] 12 midnight Tacked ship to the S & W At 8 A.M. saw several Right whales Chaised [CHASED] but without success. At 9 P.M took in sail. So ends this day. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 60..18 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 42..30 So [SOUTH]

Wednesday Feb 25th 1834 [1835] Throught [THROUGHOUT] these 24 hours moderate breezes from the N & W and pleasant weather Steering to the N & E untill [UNTIL] 11 A.M. Steered of [OFF] SW by S Saw two Right whales Chaised [CHASED] but without success So ends Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 59..45 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 41.50 S

Ship Telegraph bound [A]round Cape Horn

Thursday Feb 26th 1834 [1835] Commences with light breezes from the N & W and clear Steering SW by S Latter hours calm At 11 A.M took a breeze from the S.W. Saw 3 Right whales Lowered Chaised [CHASED] but could not fasten So ends this day Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 61..50 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 42..19 Sou [SOUTH]

Friday Feb 27th 1834 [1835] All of these 24 hours moderate breezes from the East and cloudy Steering S by W Spoke Ship Tristand of Havre 10 months out 500 bbls of Right whale oil Saw another ship of Havre 12 months out 150 bbls. Saw not the spout of a Right whale this day So ends this day. 2 men off duty Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 62.. 30 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 42..32 So [SOUTH]

Saturday Feb 28th 1834 [1835] Commences with moderate breezes from the N & E Steering E.S.E Middle & latter hours the wind hauling to the N & W Saw not the spout of a Right whale this day So ends 2 men off duty. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 60..24 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 43..59 So [SOUTH]

Sunday March 1th [1ST] 1834 [1835] Commences with fresh gales from N & W Steering S.S.E. At 6 P.M. saw three Right whales Lowered Chaised [CHASED] but could not fasten. Middle & latter hours more moderate The wind hauling to the S & W So ends this day. Longitude by Chronometer 60..18 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 44..27 S

Ship Telegraph bound [A]round Cape Horn

March 2th [2ND] AD 1834 [1835] J. Egbert Howell Aged 22 Years All of these 24 hours fresh gales from the N. & W. Steering off S.S.E Saw not the spout of a Right whale this day So ends Hands employed in various jobs of ships duty. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 60..07 W Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 44.31 S

March 3dth 1834 [1835] Commences with moderate breezes from the N & W and clear Steering SSE Middle & latter hours the wind hauling [A]round to the S & W. Took in the Top Mast Steering sail and braced sharp by the wind Saw not the spout of a right whale this day So ends Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 60.44 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 35.34

Wednesday March 4th 1834 [1835] Commences with fresh breezes from the S & W Heading to the S & E. Middle & latter hours the wind hauling to the S & E Wore ship to the S & W At 3 P.M. saw two Right whales lowered Chaised [CHASED] but without success At 8 A.M saw two Chaised [CHASED] again but could not fasten Find them very wild. Hands employed in various jobs of ships duty. So ends. Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 61..37 West. Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 45..38.

Thursday Mar 5th 1834 [1835] Commences with fresh gales from the S & E Steering by the wind to the S & W Took in the Top Gallant sails and single reefed the Top sails. Middle & latter hours more moderate The wind hauling to the South Wore ship to the West Set whole Top sails & Top Gallant sails. So ends this day Longitude by Chron [CHRONOMETER] 62..25 West Lattitude [LATITUDE] [BY] Obs [OBSERVATION] 47..30 South