June 26, 1832

26 June: In the morning, foggy, wet, very cool. Wind from the west. Course is northwest by north. At eight o’clock the sun emerges. Temperature of the air 8°R [50°F, 10°C], in the water 7°R [47.8°F, 8.8°C]. A ship to the south. Early, Master Gooden wounded a porpoise but did not get it because there was no one at hand to help him pull it in. Today we have been at sea exactly forty days. Noon observation: latitude 43°10' north, longitude 61°58' west. Temperature of the air at noon 8°R [50°F, 10°C], of the seawater 6°R [45.5°F, 7.5°C]. At noon today we are on the lower section of the Sable Island Bank but have passed this island, which now lies northeast of us.M16The American Coast Pilot (containing the courses and distances between the principal harbors, capes, and headlands on the coasts of North and South America etc., together with a tide table) by Edmund M. Blunt. Newest Edition. New York, by Edm. Blunt. provides the following information about this island: its most southern part is situated below 44°0' north; the western end has a longitude of 60°32'30" west. Freshwater ponds, cranberries, blueberries, and juniper. Otherwise consists of white sand. Ducks, snipes, and other waterfowl. Good pasture for cattle and horses, which run about wild on it. There are no trees, but a superabundance of driftwood. In the big pond there are many seals, flatfish, eels, big mussels, and clams. Ram’s Head is the highest hill on the island; the bare sand dunes are 146 feet high. See [my] following page [Fig. 1.23] for a sketch of this sandy island based on the American Coast Pilot.

The lead is cast out between twelve and one o’clock, and on Sable Island Bank there are 55 fathoms of water. We did not get to see anything of this island and thus are also situated south of Nova Scotia, or New Scotland, toward the coast of which our bowsprit is now directed. The wind remains strong [Page 1:18]Figure 1.23. Sable Island. and unfavorable all day. We must sail directly toward Nova Scotia. At seven o’clock, temperature of the air [——]°, of the water [——]°. The ship sailing beside us has gained a big lead over us. Soon we no longer see it. It seems to be bound for Halifax. At eight thirty our ship turns southward; hence we are now moving away from America again. We follow this direction until about midnight. Then the ship is set on another tack and heads for Nova Scotia again.

Date: 
Tuesday, June 26, 1832
XML Encoder: 
Charlotte Spires
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