Welcome on board the Emma F. Herriman (Bark) of San Francisco mastered by E.T. Fish on voyage from 4 Dec. 1890-24 Oct. 1891
Here you will find an example transcription of details
This is also a place to ask questions and request help with oddities in the log
You can bring the ship to life by sharing interesting finds from the log pages and other information about the ship
General help with marking and transcribing whaling logs
Weather and ice records from the whaling ships of the USA which contains the following
'must read' topics...
Tip: use ctrl+Pgup or ctrl+PgDn to quickly swap between the different worksheets as you move through start, primary, weather, and remarks worksheets to record your findings
Treasure trove of information in the Library
Over the years this forum has accumulated a broad spectrum of detailed information which is kept in the
Library
Please do take time to visit the Library because it will afford you a great deal of help. However, do feel welcome to ask questions at any time.
Help with images
- If you want to query some text please supply the page reference (the reference changes as you view the middle of a page), and an image of the text if you wish. Help for manipulating/posting images can be found in Guide to posting links and images. If you have any problems with imaging this is the board to post that question.
- Accessing pale images. The example page used below, opened through the 'Irfan' program, 'color correction' and adjust the brightness, saturation, and gamma correction. You may have your own program for adjusting brightness and contrast. Here are the before and after images using Irfan. Click to see them at full size.
Names of the crew
Names of the crew and notes of other ships mentioned or visited can also be recorded.
Crews and Ships Met.
To find the shipyard pages for other whalers
Link:
Find your ship, & the full list of ships logbooks for OWW
Select 'view single page':
When the log book image opens you will see two pages. It is easier to read the details accessing one page at a time. Use the icons at the bottom of the screen:
You can walk through Herriman's log pages in chronological order. All you have to do is increment the number at the end of the link: page/
59/mode/1up, page/
60/mode/1up, page/
61/mode/1up etc.
Here is a log page that has been transcribed to help you to be familiar with the writing.
4th to and including the 7th of July 1891
You can check for more help with reading the text in the topic
Handwriting Help and Spelling
Here is a transcription of the above log page.
| Simple transcription | Phrases of text bracketed |
Saturday July 4th 1891
To-Day came in
thick + strong Breeze from the SE. + we
have been under Lower Top-Sails
steering W by N. 8.40 a.m. steering W.
11. a.m. Raised St-Paul's Island. Saw a few
fin Backs, Latter-Part of the day fogy.
7.30 P.M. Blowing strong from the SE + we
are Lying to on the Port-Tack To-night under
Short-Sail, heading into the S.W. | Saturday [July 4th 1891]
To-Day [came in]
[thick] + [strong Breeze from the SE]. + we
have been [under Lower Top-Sails
steering W by N. 8.40 a.m. steering W.]
[11. a.m.] Raised [St-Paul's Island]. [Saw a few
fin Backs,] [Latter-Part] of the day [fogy].
[7.30 P.M.] [Blowing strong from the SE] + we
are [Lying to on the Port-Tack To-night under
Short-Sail, heading into the S.W.]
|
Sunday 5th 1891
To-Day opened thick + fogy accompanied
with a strong Southerly Breeze, + we
have been under short Sail Lying to
11.45 a.m. made all sail, + we drove
her into the N.W. a few hours. 7.30 P.m.
Bright + Clear + we are under all sail steering
into the NW. with a light Southerly air. Saw quite a
number of Fin-Backs. So ends this day. |
Sunday [5th 1891]
To-Day [opened] [thick + fogy] accompanied
with a [strong Southerly Breeze], + we
have been [under short Sail Lying to
11.45 a.m. made all sail, + we drove
her into the N.W. a few hours]. [7.30 P.m.]
[Bright + Clear] + we are [under all sail steering
into the NW]. with a [light Southerly air]. [Saw quite a
number of Fin-Backs]. So ends this day. |
Monday 6th 1891
Light SE winds accompanied with fog
+ we have been under all sail steering
N.N.E. Saw one Fin-Back, 9.30 a.m. we
Picked-up a carcass, + the said carcass being
that of a Dead walrus. It has been verry quiet
on Board. Nothing doing.
we are under all sail To-night steering NE with
a light S.E. wind thick fog. |
Monday [6th 1891]
[Light SE winds] accompanied with [fog]
+ we have been [under all sail steering
N.N.E. Saw one Fin-Back, 9.30 a.m. we
Picked-up a carcass, + the said carcass being
that of a Dead walrus. It has been verry quiet
on Board. Nothing doing.
we are under all sail] [To-night] [steering NE] with
a [light S.E. wind] [thick fog]. |
Tuesday 7th 1891
To-Day opened with light Easterly winds
accompanied with fog, + we have been
under all sail steering on the wind
Latter-Part Blowing strong from the E.N.E.
+ we are under short sail To-night steering
on the wind. Caught one Seal. | Tuesday [7th 1891]
To-Day [opened] with [light Easterly winds]
accompanied with [fog], + we have been
[under all sail steering on the wind]
[Latter-Part] [Blowing strong from the E.N.E.]
+ we are [under short sail To-night steering
on the wind. Caught one Seal.] |
Start worksheet (top section)
If you discover any metadata in the logbook please enter it on this page. Metadata means 'data about data', barometer readings or temperature readings. See under 'Weather' at rows 32 and 33. For example, if you see that the temperature is in Celsius or Centigrade, that fact should be transcribed as metadata.
This ship uses
Civil Time 15th September 1891
To-Day opened [...]7.45 A.M. Under all sail [...] 2.40 P.M. steering [...] 7. P.M. we are under sail [...] To-night steering [...]
Click on the worksheet images below to see them at full size.
Start worksheet
Primary worksheet
Weather worksheet
Remarks worksheet
Here's a link back to the list of Emma Herriman 1890-1891 logbook sections for transcribing
Log Pages for Transcribing - apply here!
Warning: AUTOFILL function between worksheets.
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The remainder of this topic is for you. Ask questions and share interesting discoveries with us to make these logs live.
