Transcribing

I spent over an hour this evening perusing through old log entries and transcribing the old text. Some of the text was quite challenging, especially some dates. With the aid of context clues and reading aloud, I was able to transcribe most very accurately. I have inserted some images from todays transcription session as a representation of my findings.

This transcription gave me some trouble where 'did' is on the upper right, and I am assuming the individual was writing fast by the occasional untidiness in the log entry. This can be seen in some of the crosses for the T's. It reads: Saw whales, lowered twice for them, did not see them from the boats latter.

This one took me a second and I had to play over the possibilities in my head, but eventually came up with the correct deciphering of snow squalls.

This is a commonly asked subject for transcribing regarding wind direction and force. It reads: Blowing strong from the north.

 This transcription for the location was challenging, and I had to enter in google what I thought the spelling of the location was. Fortunately it was close enough and the correct spelling of the location came up, Diomede Islands.

This one asks for the transcription of the highlighted date, which I ended up listing as a bad mark since it did not capture any date.

 This marking asks for the transcription of the ship interaction, reading: steering N.W., saw the Burk Sin Ranger take a whale.

Below I have inserted a series of entries that span a several day period that describes something I did not expect:

Thursday Oct 1st

This day wind from the N.W. and fine weather, saw several vessels whaling the island in right bearing S.W. 10 miles.

Friday Oct 2nd

This day, light wind from the westward steering S.E. Fore part (early in the day) saw other vessels whaling. Mid part (afternoon) laying aback. Latter part (evening) roused a large whale and lowered five boats, did not see him ayring (airing).

Saturday Oct 3rd

This day fore part calm, roused a whale. Lowered two boats, did not see him again. Mid part, working to the Eastward. Latter part the same 14 vessels in sight.

Sunday Oct 4th

This day, fore part, light breeze from the N.W. steering to the S.E. along the ice, spoke the Bork Dose huni and Tamerlam (assuming other ships and also tough transcription so may be incorrect). Mid part, lying aback. Latter part, steering by the wind in the western tack.

Monday Oct 5th

This day, light wind from the N.W. steering to the eastward. In company with five other vessel. Mid part the same. Latter part, wind from the N.E. steering by the wind on the starboard tack. Saw several vessels to the windward whaling.

I thought it was interesting to see these whaling ships working so closely and even communicating together. Especially when reaching large numbers of up to 14 vessels in the same proximity as seen in the October 3rd entry.