Whaling Log of the Iris, 1844-1846, Vol. I

Wedn Thursday November 7th 1844 Comes in with strong gales from the Westward. Saw several finbacks. At 6 PM take in sail with a gale from the Westward. In the morning more moderate. Set reefed top sails. Saw one Right whale. Chaced [CHASED] but could not strike. Latt [LATITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 37-20 South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8=50

Friday Nov 8th Comes in with light breezes from the Westward. Steer to the S & E. Saw plenty of finbacks. Latt [LATITUDE] 37-15 South Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 8..30 West

Saturday Nov 9th Comes in with strong gales from the N & W. Steer by the wind to the Eastward with reefed top sails. But soon take in sail with a gale from the S & W. Head to the S & W. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 36°=53" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8°=21" W

Sunday N [NOVEMBER] 10th This 24 hours light breezes from the Westward. Heading to the Eastward the most of the time but tack ship occasionally for finbacks. Ends. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 36=52" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 7°=11" West

Monday Nov 11th This 24 hours['] fore part we have light breezes from the N & W. Steer by the wind to the S & W. Carry sail through the night. Latter part fesh [FRESH]. Steer S & W. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 38 02 Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8°=01"

Tuesday Nov 12th Comes in with strong gales and squally from the N & W. Steer by the wind [TO] the S & W. At at 4 PM blowing on heavy with rain. Take in sail. At sunset saw two Right whale[S] near ship. At 12 midnight and in the morning set double reefed top sails and chaced [CHASED] whales but could not strike. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38-37" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8°=46"

Barque Iris on the Tristan Whale ground

Remarks on board

Wednesday Nov 13,1844 This 24 hours we have moderate gales from the Westward with a heavy old swell. Saw plenty of Right whales but very wild. Struck one but soon drawed. Tack ship as occasion requires. So ends the day. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 37°=55 South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8.42" W [VERTICAL TEXT IN THE LEFT MARGIN: Plenty of whales but wild as deer]

Thursday Nov 14th Fore part moderate breezes from the W. Latter part carry reefed top sails to the Westward with a gale from the Northward. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38=39" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 9°=20" West

Friday Nov 15th Comes in with a gale from the N by W. At 5 PM furl the fore sail and close reefed main top sail. In the morning set double reefed top sails and carry sail. Very hard to get to the Westrd [WESTWARD]. Latter part thick fog. Saw two Right whales going fast to the Northward. At Meridian the weather blows a little time. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 39°=10" S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 10°=40" W

Saturdy [SATURDAY] Nov 16th Comes in with moderate gales and thick fog from the Westward. Steer by the wind the the wind to the N & W with. Middle part calm. Latter part light wind and variable foggy the most of the time. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 39=20" S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 10°=37"

Sunday Nov 17th Fore part of this 24 hours light breezes from the N & W. Middle part calm. Latter part moderate breezes with rain from the S & W. Steer [TO] the N & W. So ends this tedious day. Tedious for my patience is almost exhausted. Latt [LATITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 38=55 South Long [LONGITUDE] by [Chro CROSSED OUT] Acct [ACCOUNT] 10=37

Remarks on board

Monday 18th 1844 This 24 hours we have moderate breezes from the Westward. Heading to the N & W. Saw the Tristan Isles bearing NNW dist [DISTANCE] 50 m [MILES]. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 37°=58" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 11°=13" W

Tuesday Nov 19th This 24 hours fo[?] moderate gales from the Westward. In the morn [MORNING] stood in for Tristan and got some fish. Spoke ship Candice of New London, Capt [CAPTAIN] Reed, 1400 bls [BARRELS], two seasons; Pembroke of N L [NEW LONDON], Capt [CAPTAIN] Tate, 400, 17 months. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 37=20 Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER]

Wednesday Nov 20th This 24 hours moderate gales from the Westward. Steer East throug[H] the [NIGHT?] under short sail. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 36=23" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 9=56

Thursday Nov 21rst Fore part of these 24 hours calm and heavy swell from the Southtward. Latter moderate breeze from the Northward. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 36 36 Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 39°=00" [9°=00"?]

Friday Nov 22ond Fore part of these 24 hours moderate gales from the Northward. Steer [TO] the Eastward and Southward. Latter part wind from the S & W. Steer [BY] the wind [TO] the S & E. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 37°=20" S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8°=13"

Saturday Nov 23rd All of these 24 hours [fresh CROSSED OUT] light breezes from the S & W. Steer by the wind to the S & E and so ends the tedious day and saw nothing. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 37°=40" S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 7°=03" W

Sunday Nov 24th Comes in with calm weather. At 6 PM a light breeze from the Northward. Carry sail through the night to the S & W. Latter part steer West. Lowered for whales which proved to be humpbacks. So ends the day etc. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38°=20" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8°=25" W

Barque Iris off Goughs [GOUGH] Island

Remarks on board

Monday Nov. 25th 1844 This 24 hours strong gales from the Northward. Steer to the Westward. Latter part saw two Right whales. Struck and killed both of them. Lost one. Took one alongside a little before sunset after working all day with a gale of wind. Though for fear of loosing [LOSING] the whale we hooked onto him and took one lip and then was obliged to give it up. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 38=43 S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 9°=09" [VERTICAL TEXT IN THE LEFT MARGIN: One Right whale, lost the head]

Tuesday Nov. 26th [A DRAWING OF THE LOWER PORTION OF A BLEEDING WHALE, INCLUDING ITS TAIL, IN THE LEFT MARGIN WITH TEXT: 40 bls] All of this 24 hours strong gales from the N & W. At about 12 midnight parted the large 12 inch flook [FLUKE] rope and got a chain. Sea running verry [VERY] high and ship laboring verry [VERY] hard. At 6 AM commenced cutting [but CROSSED OUT] and finished at 10 AM but lost the head and throat. So ends boiling . Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38°=48" S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8=27

Wednesday Nov. 27th All of this 24 hours a gale of wind from the Westward. Set the fore top sail [as CROSSED OUT] but soon take it in again. So ends. Boiling. Latt [LATITUDE] 38-00 S Long [LONGITUDE] 8=53" W Ship heading [TO] the Northward.

Thursday Nov 28th Comes in with strong gales and heay [HEAVY] swell from the Westward. Latter part moderate. Made [...]. Steer WSW and stow down oil. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 37=43" Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8°=44 West [VERTICAL TEXT IN THE LEFT MARGIN: Stow down 40 bbls oil]

Friday Nov 29th Comes in with fresh breezes from the N. Steer SW. Latter part wind hauls [A]round to the S & E and is attended with rain. Steer by the wind to the S & W. Saw two Right whales. Struck one but soon drawed. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38=17" Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 8°=55" West

[Thursday CROSSED OUT] Saturday Nov 29th 1844

Remarks on board

Saturday Comes in with moderate gales from the Northward hauling to the Eastward. Lay by the wind to the West. Latter part thick fog. Steer SW under top sails. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38°=27" South Long [LONGITUDE] by [Chro CROSSED OUT] DR [DEAD RECKONING] 9°=20"

Sunday December 1rst 1844 Comes in with strong gales and thick fog. At 4 PM take in sail. At 8 PM furl the fore sail and close reef the main top sail and head to the Westward. Wind from the N & E. So ends this tedious day. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38°=51" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 10°=40" W

Monday Dec. 2ond Fore part of these 24 hours we have gale of wind from the N. At 4 PM moderate a little. Make sail and head to the N & E. Wind hauling to the S & E. So ends the day. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 37 45 S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 9°=37" West

Tuesday Dec. 3rd All of this 24 hours light breezes from the Northward. Steer to the S & E bound to the North West court. So ends the day. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38°=15" S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8°=54"

Wednesday Dec 4th This 24 hours moderate gales from the N & W. Steer ESE. Saw finbacks. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 38°=32" S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 8°=25"

Thursday Dec 5th All of these 24 hours moderate breezes from the Northward and thick fog. Steer ENE. Saw nothing. Latt [LATITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 37°=29" S Long [LONGITUDE] Acct [ACCOUNT] 5°=52"

Friday Dec 6th This 24 hours moderate gales from the Northward attended with a thick fog. Steer NNE. So ends the tedious day. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 36=53 S Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 3°=30" West