Plough Boy Journals  Whalesite

The Plough Boy's Boat Signals

(transcription follows)

Ship P[lough] Boys Boat Signals.

Ship P[lough] Boys Boat Signals

When Whale is up set the flag to Fore Top Gallant head and keep it up as long as the Whale is up When the Whale or Whales goes down haul it down

When convineant head the Ship for the Whales and haul down the jib untill the boats get sight of them -- keep the flag flying as long as the Whales is up

When Whales comes up to windward run the flag Up and down until the boats head for them and then set the flag up untill the Whale goes down

When Whales comes up to leeward set the flag half mast untill the boats head for them then set it up &c.

In case of a stoven boat wanting assistance of one of the boats set the Ships signal at the Main Top Gallant head -- and when wanting all the boats to come to the ship set 2 flags at the Main Top Gallant head one above the other

When the boats is out in the knight set the lanthorns so the boats will see them and make a torch of oil & tar &c on the try works in a ladle make Short Tacks and keep close to the boats at all times

NOTES:

      Lewis Monto's manuscript page of the Plough Boy's boat signals was originally found in his manuscript journal of the 1828-1830 whaling cruise of the Nantucket whale ship, Plough Boy, Nathan Chase, commander. Monto was the Plough Boy's cooper in 1828-1830 and its third (later second) mate in 1830-1834.

      Comparison of Monto's handwriting with that on the boat signals document would suggest that it was written by another hand.

      The document is now in the collection of the Nantucket Historical Association on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Plough Boy Journals  Whalesite