Old Weather Forum

Old Weather: Arctic => Dry Dock => Bear => Topic started by: Michael on January 13, 2019, 04:55:05 pm

Title: Bear (1908) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination
Post by: Michael on January 13, 2019, 04:55:05 pm
July 22, 1908 (https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919246/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol098A/26-159A-bear-vol098A_027.jpg)
Bear has spent a couple of months patrolling the waters around Saint Paul Island, checking on those vessels engaged in seal hunting. We just stopped a Japanese vessel, the No. 2 Kuisei Maru. She ignored our short blasts from our steam whistle, so we put a shot from our forward 6 pdr across her bows.  ;)

The bearings, when she was stopped, were Right Tangent Northeast Point SWxW3/4W (Mag) and Right Tangent Walrus Island SE (Mag). With a magnetic declination of 14.75 degrees for 1908, her position is 57.25835   -170.01433. This puts her 2.8 miles from NE Point, and within the three mile limit.

What I find most pleasing is that Bear put her 2 3/8 miles off Northeast Point which, given the year, the state of the maps of the time and etc, I find very good, it being a difference of only 0.4 miles.

Title: Re: Bear (1908) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination
Post by: Randi on January 13, 2019, 05:54:18 pm
;D
Title: Re: Bear (1908) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination
Post by: Michael on January 14, 2019, 10:45:31 am
Proof that the guy with the biggest gun wins.   :)

Monday, July 27, 1908.

Quote
912, sighted two small boats ahead pulling N'ly. Fired two rifle shots to windward of the nearest one but they continued moving; fired blank shot from for'd six pounder and they stopped. 922 stopped and boat came alongside on following bearings by quarterdeck compass: Ship's Head ENE; Hutchinson Hill SE1/4E (SE1/8E mag;) Polovina Mt, left peak S5/8E (S1/2E mag); Rush Hill SW7/8S. (SW3/4S mag). p.l. 68.7. nearest land, point west of N.E. Pt. 25/8 miles distant. Found her to belong to the Kaiyo Maru. Searched boat but found no seals nor sealskins. There was blood in bottom of boat, but not being sure it was fresh blood, the commanding officer released the boat after giving the crew warning to stay further off shore. Second boat well outside the limit.

His position, using the magnetic bearings is: 57.28819   -170.16122 which is 2.7 miles from the nearest point of land. Mind you, it is difficult to place the left peak of Polovina Mountain, but my estimated position agrees well with his distance from the nearest point of land. I'm not sure the significance of the 1.4 degree difference between the two sets of readings, unless they are from two different compasses. The actual magnetic declination for the time and place is 14.7 degrees.
Title: Re: Bear (1908) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination
Post by: Randi on January 14, 2019, 10:59:21 am
(http://www.psdgraphics.com/file/gold-trophy-cup.jpg)


Proof that you don't have to be crazy to work here but that it helps ;D
Title: Re: Bear (1908) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination
Post by: Michael on January 14, 2019, 11:10:57 am
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Bear (1908) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination
Post by: Michael on January 14, 2019, 12:35:28 pm
Monday, August 10, 1908
55.12444   -160.01528  Off Macks Head Island
   
Quote
640 underway & out. Stopped off Mack Island to give newspapers to fishermen in small boat.


I can just imagine the fisherman seeing the Bear pull up to ask them if they need anything, and they ask for newspapers. It wasn't the most pleasant of days: cloud, drizzle and fog, 49 degrees, and a force 3 wind out of the ESE. Mind you, some people say that any day spent fishing is a good day.  ;)