On this day: May 23
What American whalers wrote in their logbooks on May 23, in every year of the atlas's voyages: the most interesting first, each linked to its day and the original logbook.
- 1850 · Abigail: Captain feared crew would desert in port.
- 1852 · Fortune: Captain Hathaway died aboard.
- 1865 · Brewster: Found skulls of eaten natives ashore.
- 1850 · Abigail: Narrow escape from being driven ashore.
- 1832 · Bengal: Caught a shark for oil.
- 1842 · Jefferson: Whale smashed the left-side boat.
- 1864 · Brewster: Crew praised for good behavior on liberty.
- 1867 · Abraham Barker: Runaways brought back aboard and ironed.
- 1904 · Karluk: Plenty of walruses seen off King Island.
- 1836 · Addison: Caught 3 sperm whales.
- 1844 · Draco: Caught a whale.
- 1845 · Draco: Keeper prayed for guidance.
- 1876 · Golden City: Crew spotted bone sharks.
- 1832 · Parker: Keeper cursed his enemies to hunt empty seas.
- 1834 · Bengal: Led on a wild goose chase.
- 1834 · Bengal: Saw white water and ran for it.
- 1846 · Draco: Keeper noted good luck while boiling.
- 1846 · Indian Chief: Encountered snow and rain.
- 1852 · Pacific: Endured a gale and snow squalls.
- 1854 · Active: Sighted snow-covered island mountains.
- 1861 · Altamaha: Keeper complained the crew was lubberly.
- 1848 · Dunbarton: Saw plenty of porpoises.
- 1862 · Hopeton: Got one porpoise.