| Description | Daily meteorological observations taken aboard ship, voyaging in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean with spaces for readings taken at two-hourly intervals [but generally no more than six per day] commencing on 30 March 1727 at 2.00am and concluding at 12.00 midnight. With columns for date and hour, thermometer, wind direction, and general weather remarks including 'remarkable observations'. The ship's daily position is given by latitude and longitude, with course direction.
Occasional remarks on wildlife, including on 13 May 1727 [p.16]: 'See a great number of Whales at ye point of a felt, and a white bear upon it'. On 4 June [p.24]: 'See a great number of Seales upon ye ice killed several one was 6 foot Long'. By 16 June [p.27] the ship is off the coast of Greenland and by 2 July [p.33] 'Came to anchor at ye NE point of Charles Island in 10 fathom'. The next day 'our boats...went to ye NW point of ye Island to gather Scurvy grass'. 3-4 July 'upon this Island is oft times found Dears: bears and foxes and a great numbers of fowles. Upon ye Low land were found several Larg peices of fir trees the ribes and other Larg bones of whales and other fishes 15 or 20 foot higher than ye water usually cometh...' [p.33]. On 4 July 'to the Eastward of this Island wee killed 3 Seahorses [walruses] and wound near 20 more which was lying upon a point of sand that Dryed at Low water...' [p.34]. The ship is recorded at anchor to 5 July, but from 6 July off the coast of Greenland. On 12 July, 'at anchor in Maklicow' [p.36]. The voyage concludes with a return to England on 21 August 'Anchored at Gravesend' [p.49].
The cover sheet [p.1] is inscribed: '76. John Cracroft 1727.' and at the back cover [p.34] 'Mr. John Cracroft's Journal A.D. 1727'. Signed [p.49]: 'Cept in the Expedition by John Cracroft in 1727'.
The South Sea Company commenced whaling operations in northern waters from 1725, with Henry Elking as superintendent. |