Example 2: Sailing Information
Weather page
- Nautical miles and tenths are combined into a single, decimal number.
- You only need to transcribe the Patent Log nautical miles if the previous column was not filled in.
- Average revolutions and tenths are not needed.
- Calm can be abbreviated as c.
- Do not transcribe Sea Condition or Sea Swells From.
Occasionally ice is noted in the weather grid. These columns should used to transcribe it.
- For additional information, see the notes under previous example.
- Some log books specify latitude and longitude as either Observed or DR (dead reckoning).
These logs do not, so Not Specified should be used as the Type.
- There is no need to transcribe the Noon Position Gulf of Alaska, because we have a more accurate noon position.
- For additional information, see the notes under previous example.
Events page
Transcribing the date is crucial. That is how the pages are indexed.
Michael uses the information about the location, course, and movement of the ship for calculating the ship's hourly position.
For an example of his work, see
Bear 1891.
Calculating Locations gives a description of the process.
Comments like "Underway as before course 274 T" do not need to be transcribed because they do not represent a
change.
- You can put everything on the same line or you can use multiple lines.
- Changed course, course change, set course, etc. can all be transcribed as 'cc'.
That not only saves you transcribing, it also makes the change easier for Michael to spot.
- You do not need to transcribe the degree symbol.
In the rare cases where it is needed for clarity, write it out.
- It is useful to know if a course is true (T), but other abbreviations (pgc, pstgc) can be omitted.
- When multiple Sailing Info events occur within the same hour, they can be combined into a single entry.
- Bearing can be abbreviated as brg.
Distance and distant can be abbreviated as dist.
Mile and miles can be abbreviated as mi.
- The log has multiple spellings for MacLeod Harbor.
Using what is written in the log is always correct.
However, out of curiosity I looked up the official spelling and used that.
- There is no need to transcribe the comments (various courses, alongside CGC CEDAR) that do not give concrete location information.
We are now asking for the names of other US government ships (USS and USCGC) met.
This is to allow the science team to compare instrument readings between ships.
For more information, see
Examining Logbook Pages from the Albatross Ship for Aug 23, 1899 - Oct 30, 1900
To make this as easy as possible, you can:
- List all ships met on a given day in a single entry without a time.
- Omit ships that were noted on previous days.
However, if a ship is absent from the log and then reappears, please note it again.
- There is no need to transcribe the speed (ten knots).
It is not necessary to transcribe the rest of what is on the events page.
However, to help you become familiar with the writing, here is a full transcription:
0000 - 0400
Underway as before course 274 T and pgc speed 11.5 knots (84 RPM)
generators number 1 and 2 on the line, motor room control.
Watch uneventful.
O.C. Hinnen Lt(jg)
0400 to 0800
Underway as before steering course 274 T and pgc 246 pstgc at speed 11.5 knots
84 RPM. Watch uneventful. 0736 With CAPE ST. ELIAS LIGHT bearing 276 T 22 miles
distance, changed course to 270 T and pgyc.
George D. Winstein, Lt(jg)
0800 - 1200
Underway as before 0830 Made daily inspection of magazines
and smokeless powder samples, conditions dry and normal, all
small arms accounted for 0915 Changed course to 290 pgc (T) with
Cape St Elias bearing 321 T, distance 6.5 miles 0947 Changed course
to 269 pgc (T) with Cape St Elias buoy abeam to starboard distance
.8 miles
JE Murray, Ensign
1200 - 1600
Underway as before on course 269 (T + pgc), 242 (pstgc), speed 11.5 knots (84 RPM)
with generators #1 and #2 on the line, motor room control. 1200 Tested general +
chemical alarms, condition satisfactory.
SB Russell, Lt(jg)
1600 - 2000
Underway as before on course 269 T + pgc, speed 11.5 knots (84 RPM)
with generators #1 and 2 on the line on motor room control. 1821 with
Cape Cleare bearing 336 T distance 2 mile changed course to 303 T + pgc.
Standing into Montague Strait 1840 with Cape Cleare bearing 080 T
distance 1.5 mile changed course to 000 T and pgc. 1847 changed course
to 008 T and pgc. 1915 on various courses standing into McCleod Harbor.
1927 shifted to pilot house control. 1945 held evening reports mustered
lifeboat crew. 1950 various speeds maneuvering alongside CGC CEDAR.
10 minute standby.
OC Hinnen Lt(j.g.)
2000 to 2400
Moored port side to the starboard side of the CGC CEDAR which is anchored
in McLEOD HARBOR, ALASKA. 2030 Transferred cargo to CGC CEDAR as per invoice no. 18-48
memorandum Bills of Lading numbered KSM-302-48, KSM-305-48, KSM-306-48
all dated 5 May 1948. 2130 The following named men worked two (2) hours
extra duty: TEELING, JAMES P. (268-823) SN, eighteen (18) hours remaining.
McCLENDON, HENRY (270-259) SA, eight (8) hours remaining, BRACE, POBERT S.
(264-292) EN3, eight (8) hours remaining. 2329 Unmoored and underway
steering various courses standing out of McLEOD HARBOR. 2345 Set course to
269 T and pgyc speed ten (10) knots. using generators #1 and #2, motor room control.
George D. Winstein, Lt(jg)
- You can simply do your best to transcribe locations as written.
However, if you enjoy tracking them down, here are some resources:
Alaskan Place Names -- Reference lists the place names we have found to date and it gives links to resources for tracking down place names.
Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion allows you to ask questions and contribute the results of your research.
You may also find Matteo and Michael's graphical Find Place tool very useful!
- Sometimes there is a List of Officers at the beginning of the log book.
See the previous example for more resources for people.
- If you are curious about the CGC Cedar, see Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships or Wikipedia.
https://www.history.uscg.mil/research/chronology/
1928 CGC
Haida and the USLHT
Cedar rescued 312 passengers and crew from the sailing vessel
Star of Falkland near Unimak Pass, Alaska after
Star of Falkland had run aground in the fog the previous evening. Both the cutter and the tender managed to save all but eight from the sailing vessel. This rescue was one of the most successful in Coast Guard history and was also one of the few instances where the Coast Guard and one of its future integrated agencies worked together to perform a major rescue.
- PGC is Per GyroCompass. This is a gyrocompass located at a secondary conning station.
PSTGC, or PSTC, is Per Steering Compass. This is a magnetic compass located near the helmsman.
For more information, see Standard and Steering Compasses
