On this day: December 5
What American whalers wrote in their logbooks on December 5, in every year of the atlas's voyages: the most interesting first, each linked to its day and the original logbook.
- 1838 · Edward Quesnel: Chains parted and ship narrowly escaped wrecking.
- 1849 · Abigail: Mrs. Young and baby fell ill.
- 1842 · Jefferson: Lost the whale's head while cutting in.
- 1847 · Mary and Susan: Mr. Stafford injured in the lower hold.
- 1847 · Abigail: Traded for pigs, chickens, and oranges.
- 1831 · George Porter: Caught a whale.
- 1832 · George Porter: Caught a whale.
- 1836 · Edward Quesnel: Caught a whale.
- 1842 · Jefferson: Caught a whale.
- 1848 · Nimrod: Caught 2 sperm whales.
- 1860 · Jireh Perry: Caught a whale.
- 1862 · Jireh Perry: Received newspapers reporting on Bull Run.
- 1832 · Bengal: Masthead sighted dense mix of marine life.
- 1834 · Bengal: Keeper reflected on the homeward voyage.
- 1836 · Edward Quesnel: Could not get oil from the blubber.
- 1846 · Draco: Keeper wished for whales.
- 1847 · Draco: Sailed over chart location of Barkers Rock.
- 1832 · Bengal: Saw skipjacks.
- 1832 · Bengal: Saw birds including tropicbirds.
- 1840 · Volant: Saw porpoises.
- 1852 · Fortune: Sick crew member no better.
- 1878 · Draco: Saw birds.
- 1905 · Karluk: Got one seal.