October 7 - 10, 1862

D. D. Baxter Master

Tuesday October 7th

Had light wind from all quarters. Steering S S E. Employed at work in the rigging and mended my Boat. And lowered for Blackfish twice1.

Lat 10 00 N. Long 21 23 W

Wednesday Oct 8th

Commences with squally rainy weather. And wind from all points of the compass. Boiled the Blackfish out2. And Employed at work in the rigging.

Lat 9 44 N Long 21 41 W

Thursday October 9th

Had light winds and calms. Employed at work in the Rigging. Lowered for Blackfish the Starboard Boat got one. And the school stayed around but would not stay on top of water3. We hoisted him and stripped his jacket off4.

Lat 9 13 N Long 20 19 W

Friday Oct 10th

Commences with a moderate wind from NNE. Steering S by E. During the forenoon had severe wind & rain squalls from E. During the later part had light wind from SSE. Steering SW by S by the wind.

Lat 7 54 N Long 20 01 W

1 Blackfish were often taken opportunistically when schools were encountered. Two lowerings suggest persistence, even if success is not explicitly recorded.

2 Boiling during squally weather indicates urgency—fresh blubber spoiled quickly in tropical heat.

3 Blackfish (pilot whales) often frustrated whalemen by sounding repeatedly rather than remaining at the surface; when alarmed or partially struck, a school would “go down” together and surface unpredictably, making it difficult for boats to keep position and deliver a clean second iron.

4 “Stripped his jacket off” — removal of the blubber blanket from the carcass, either alongside or after hoisting.