On this day: August 23

What American whalers wrote in their logbooks on August 23, in every year of the atlas's voyages: the most interesting first, each linked to its day and the original logbook.

1. 1861 · Mary: Heard news of Civil War battle.
2. 1853 · Active: Traded with local islanders.
3. 1865 · Brewster: A Nantucket boy died and was buried.
4. 1861 · Mary: Keeper prayed war news was false.
5. 1832 · Bengal: Caught 5 pilot whales.
6. 1838 · Edward Quesnel: Ship was four men short.
7. 1876 · E. H. Hatfield: Collin Steven appointed as first mate.
8. 1862 · Hopeton: Shot sharp fin but it sank.
9. 1883 · Pedro Varela: Caught a sperm whale.
10. 1893 · Beluga: Caught a bowhead whale.
11. 1844 · Solon: Abundant flying fish and gulfweed.
12. 1904 · Karluk: Ventured out to the ice pack.
13. 1848 · Abigail: Saw porpoises.
14. 1877 · E. H. Hatfield: Saw porpoises.

August 22 · August 24

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