Ship's Log: The Mariner's Journal

Logbook of the Betsy Williams (ship) of Stonington, Conn., mastered by Glibert Pendleton, kept by John R Collins, on a whaling voyage 1851-1854). Source: New Bedford Whaling Museum digitized collection.

Ship logs are serious. Succinct. Essential records of conditions and accountings of the ship's business. Old handwritten captain's logs despite their seriousness, are often quite beautiful. 

 Logbook of the Betsy Williams. Often the logs on whaling voyages detailed the catch. "Sperm whale... officer struck which was killed by the mate took her along side .... 

Logbook of the Nimrod (Ship) of New Bedford, Mass., mastered by Willis Howes, 
kept by Willis Howes, on voyage from 18 Sept. 1857-14 July 1861] (1857)

Generally kept in a captain's handwriting the entries note the passage of the ship’s course. The penmanship on these logs are often a voluptuous, extravagant script characteristic of a time when handwriting was an art. One wonders that the writers of these books could ever write a legible line given the pitch of a sailing ship could everNonetheless, these books are a pragmatic and practical tool for navigating a featureless, watery world that might be a dull, eventless series of days and then turn treacherously violent in a few minutes.  

Logbook of the Hibernia (Ship : 1830-1870) of New Bedford, Mass., 
mastered by Jeremiah Ludlow, on voyage from 3 May 1866-25 Nov. 1860] (1866).

The term “ship’s log” comes from the custom of recording “logs". Early sailing ships carried an actual wooden log that was tied to a length of rope, knotted at regular intervals.  A sailor dropped the log over the stern of the ship letting the rope play out as the ship sailed on.  A mate counted the number of the knots that played out for a fixed time interval. Distance traveled over the time (ship speed) was recorded in "knots".   Knots were the measure how far and fast the ship was moving.  

Logbook of the Nassau (Ship : 1824-1865) of New Bedford, Mass., mastered by J.W. White,

 kept by H.C. Murdock on voyage 5 Aug. 1850-22 May 1853] (1850).

The log readings were meticulously recorded in a journal which came to be called simply “the log.” To this day maritime speed is noted not in miles per hour, but in knots.

Log book tally of whale oil from the ship Fortune. An
interesting method of charting months and harvest.

The survival of the ship, its crew and cargo depended on the  care in keeping a meticulous log that tracked the voyage. Speed was recorded in knots. Position marked with  compass and sextant readings.  Wind and sea conditions, sail adjustments, sightings of other ships, port calls, deaths, and curious events and strange phenomena all made their way into the captain’s logs.

Investigate old ships logs and you will find records of journeys written by able, literate men engaged in a high priced, high risk endeavor with lives and cargo at stake. These logs are tough-minded, no nonsense, clean, and clear... admirable qualities in any journal. 

We can admire them for their consistency and their bare bones beauty. But the large questions that these books address; Where are we now? How far have we come?  Are we on course? What direction next? are exactly the same questions that many journals try and answer.

6.4.2020

“The Ship American Laying in Talcahuano.  Remarks Saturday April 30th All hands employed in cleaning and painting ship on the outside." She is harbored at the town of Tolcahuano and keeping company with the Alexander Barclay from Bremeu, the bark Draco and several merchant ships and brigs. Remarks on Sunday say “ All hands on liberty." She lays to off the island (in Chili?) makes another week of repairs giving the crew another liberty Sunday and then American sails.

Note: A wonderful collection of Digitized Captain's Logs has been made available by the New Bedford Whaling Museum of Massachusetts. Page through the logs @ New Bedford Whaling Museum Ship Log Archive