Old Weather Forum

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On the weather page, please enter: date, locations, distances (nautical miles and tenths), courses, and all the weather data in the columns outlined in red in the spreadsheet.
It is not necessary to record State of the Sea.
However, ice mentioned in the weather grid should be transcribed using the magenta Sea column.

On the events page please enter: ice, location information, and sailing information.
Aurorae, volcanic, and seismic activity should be reported in the forum.
The names of US Navy and Coast Guard ships met should be noted. This gives the science team a chance to compare weather readings. You can include all ships mentioned in a single entry without a time or any additional data.
Other events are optional.

One person can do both weather and events (Stream 1), but the system also allows one person to do the weather page (Stream 1) and a second person to do the events page (Stream 3).
Unlike in OW3, where three transcriptions were required for each page, we are doing only one transcription per page.

Every transcriber needs to enter the date.
The date is used to organize the pages.

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See Haida — General for some general background and discussion.
See Haida — Examples for a quick introduction to transcribing or a refresher.

See Transcribing Guide to learn how to transcribe the data.
Post in Ask Questions Here or this topic if you have questions.

OW web site: Haida

Direct links:

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I'm reserving 1922.

7 May, 1922
Off Round Island. (54.202, -164.777)
1610

Stopped, lowered whaleboat. Lieut. (J.G.) F. J. Birkett tok motion picutres of seals & sea lions on Round Id.

A few days earlier they reported 400 sea lions on Round Island.

We were diverted to the P. E. Harris & Co. Cannery to tend to an injured man. (He needed his thumb amputated.) Anyway, I looked up the P. E. Harris & Co. Cannery, and I found this. There is an interesting film about the salmon cannery there, make in 1936. The film is about 16 minutes long. If you think you hear the words, "Iron Chink," you are correct. It was a machine designed to cut and clean salmon and it replaced the workers who previously performed those tasks. Many of these workers were Chinese or First Nations.

The events pages are my reward for plowing through the weather data

Me, too. I love the quirky films, like the one made on the B. C. Rum runner during Prohibition in the U. S. We even got to see the Northland trying, unsuccessfully, to catch them.

During one of my visits to the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle they had one of the automatic salmon processing machines on display.

They have one in the Royal B.C. Museum here, too.

Thursday, June 22, 1922
Unalaska

23:10 C. H. Holmes F1c reported having found dead in his bunk J. Pongitore Sea 2c. Upon Medical Officer pronouncing Pongitore dead, his body was removed to the ship's hospital. Executive Officer, Officer of the Deck, and the Medical Officers investigating the case. Indications are death was due to an overdose of narcotics, self administered.

Friday, June 23, 1922

05:15 G. W. Steele C.M.M. (a) made a written Confession of his connection with dope or heroin which he admitted giving to J. Pongitore Sea 2c before suppertime on Jun 22, 1922. Commanding Officer ordred G. W. Steele C.M.M. (a) confined to brig and C. V. Ryan Ph. M. 1c placed in leg irons both for safe keeping, as the investigation and confessions implicate these men in connection with the probable obtaining of heroin by J. Pongitore Sea 2c deceased. Commanding Officer reported results to Bering Sea Partol Force Commander. Following men acknowledge having had in their possession or having them yesterday a narcotic presumably heroin: G. W. Steels C.M.M. (a), C. V. Ryan Ph M 1c, S. A. Caspar Yeo 2c, C. H. Parke Ptr 3c, C. O. Gordon F 1c, G. M. Dixon Bugler 1c and P. Towne F 3c.

Saturday, Jun 24, 1922

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Discontinued all except necessary work on account of funeral services.
10:00 Funeral services held at Jessie Lee Home over body of J. Pongitore. Body then buried with military honors in Unalaska cemetery. Colors half-masted during ceremony and during removal of body to grave.

Board of Investigation of which Lt (j.g.) C. H. Abef is president met to inquire into the cause of the death of J. Pongitore, Sea 2c.

Sunday, Jun 25, 1922

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In accordance with instructions from U.S. District Judge, Seward, Alaska, body of J. Pongitore deceased was exhumed and an autopsy performed by P. A. Surg USPHS (R) A. W. VanKirk.

4 p.m. - Mid
Chemical analysis of stomach etc of J. Pongitore, deceased begun by Lieut (j.g.) L. B. Olsen.

Grim.

It was grim. I think I saw references to searches for drugs on the Concord when they were in the Philippines and on one of the China Station ships. Stuart might remember re the Concord, and SleepyOwl for the China Station ship.

Monday, July 10, 1922

12:50 Anchored off St. Matthews Island. Sent investigating parties ashore to ascertain if poachers had been on the island and see if the "No Trespassing" signs were still intact. No signs found intact - no evidence of poachers on southern portion of Island. No seals sighted.

For over a month they've been checking all the vessels they see for evidence of seal hunting, such as gear or firearms.They've also been adding a count of seals seen during each watch. Mostly the number is zero. Occasionally they see one. Once they saw seven. Other than that, they've been doing occasional vaccinations, taking census data, tending to medical and dental needs, although checking vessels and counting seals to be their main chore. I'm looking forward to calculating this voyage, because it seems to be an endless succession of circles and zig-zags in the vicinity of St. Paul, St. George and St. Matthew Islands.

Saturday, July 29, 1922
Unalaska

11:50 A.M.

Instructed crew to keep clear of Dutch Harbor Radio Station owing to mumps there.

Sunday, July 30, 1922
Unalaska

12:30 Received orders form Commander Bering Sea Patrol Force to proceed to Dutch Harbor for fresh water; leaving that place not later than 8:00 p.m. this date to proceed to Unga, Alaska and confer with U.S. Deputy Marshall, at that place, in regard to the sacking of Perryville, Alaska.

Monday, July 31, 1922

7:50 p.m. Anchored in Delarof Harbor. Commissioner Driffield of Unga came on board to confer with Commanding Officer relative to the sacking of Perryville.

Tuesday, August 1, 1922

10:10 a.m. Whaleboat returned from boarding duty with U. S. Commissioner Driffield.
11:15 Vessel awaiting word from U. S. Deputy Marshall, of Unga, Alaska relative to latest developments in regard to sacking of Perryville, the Marshall at present being absent in connection with the case and endeavor is being made to get in touch with him by radio.

Thursday, August 3, 1922
Baralof Bay

11:10 Marshal W. C. Snook came on board for investigation of looting of Perryville. On receipt of orders from Commander Bering Sea Patrol Force to continue with the investigation, of the above case, made preparations for getting underway.
3:00 p.m. Underway, stood out of harbor. Increased speed to reach harbor before darkness set in.

Friday, August 4, 1922

6:30 a.m. Anchored off Perryville. Commanding Officer and Marshal made inspection of Perryville to obtain evidence of the looters of that place.
8:05 a.m. Investigating party returned. Hoisted boat. Set speed at 110 R.P.M. on account of poor draft and in order to reach Chignik during daylight.
1:15 p.m. Stood into Chignik, Anchorage Bay, where at 1:40 anchored. Commanding Officer and Deputy Marshal W. C. Snook left vessel for Alaska Packers Assoc. Cannery 12 mi. up river, in search of a suspicious character seen in vicinity of the cannery there.
6:30 p.m. C. O. returned from investigation ashore.
7:00 p.m. The Chief and several natives of Perryville came on board for conference in regard to looting of their village.

Saturday, August 5, 1922

They receive a radiogram from the C. O. of the Bering Sea Patrol Force and they head for Alitak and Lazy Bays at nearly full speed. In the evening they search the vessel Lina K. and found seal skins, two shotguns and three rifles.

Sunday, August 6, 1922
Alitak Bay

8:30 a.m. Searching party, accompanied by George Yamada, Master of Lina K., Lieut F. J. Birkett in charge, left on tender loaned by Alitak Packing Company, proceeding to Aiaktolik Village to make search and investigation in accordance with Force Commander's radiogram 1004-1100.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Commanding Officer made search of village of Akhiok for evidence of poaching of fur bearing animals or of stolen articles from Perryville. No evidence found.
4 p.m.to mid Searching party from Aiaktlik Village returned with still and two barrels containing sourdough in different stages of fermentation found in the house of a Japanese called "Harry May". The man was not found. Searching party also visited Russian Harbor in order to apprehend a Gove named man but he could not be found.

Monday, August 7 1922
Lazy Bay

Mid to 9 a.m. Sent officer to ascertain probable whereabouts of missing Japanese "Harry May."
9:15 a.m. Sa. S. "Shoshone" came alongside. Lieutenant (j.g.) F. J. Birkett with Boatswain A. Nelson and Carpenter R. Grasson left on the "Shoshone" to search for Harry May.
7:00 p.m. Search party returned with Japanese Harry May, prisoner.
8:00 p.m. Awaiting instructions from Force Commander.

Tuesday, August 8, 1922
Lazy Bay

6:00 a.m. Sent officer ashore to further interrogate George Yamada and allow Harry May to obtain personal effects.
8:00 a.m. Boarding officer returned.
8:30 a.m. Underway.

Wednesday, August 9, 1922
Enroute Lazy Bay to Delarof Harbor

10:05 a.m. Anchored in Delarof Harbor.
11:00 a.m. Commissioner Driffield came on board to hold court in the case of Harry May.
11:45 a.m. Court adjourned.
1:00 p.m. Commissioner Driffield left vessel. Japanese prisoner Harry May taken ashore to be placed in jail, having been sentenced by Commissioner Driffield to six months in jail and a $200.00 fine for illegal manufacture of alcoholic spirits. Articles of evidence, namely half barrel of mash, keg of moonshine and still turned over to Commissioner.
1:55 p.m. Up anchor & underway...

And so end the saga of the Sacking of Perryville which ends with the seizure of a still and a keg of moonshine.

Just as there was no mention of what happened to the case of the illegal heroin earlier, the log is silent about the sacking of Perryville.

Manning 1914 is on a similar mission, counting seals and watching for illegal seal hunting. The number of seals sighted is logged for every watch when not in port. So far they have only sighted seals twice.

Tuesday, August 15, 1922
Kvichak Bay

Mid to 9 a.m. Mr. P. Larsen Supt. of the Naknek Packing Co. and Red Salmon Packing Co. canneries came on board and requested assistance in stopping labor trouble at the canneries. Commanding Officer investigating same.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Commanding Officer investigated complaint of five men at Naknek Pkg. Co. Cannery.
4 p.m. - Mid. Armed guard from vessel escorted five Mexican prisoners via Tug "Fram" from Naknek Pkg's Co Cannery on board Bark "Hecla". These men from Dillingham, Nushagak River, are noted as bad characters and recommended for deportation upon arrival of "Hecla" at San Francisco.

Nothing like having a few armed soldiers, sailors or marines on hand to aid in labor negotiations. There was no hint in the logs as to why they stopped there.

Wednesday, August 16, 1922
Kvichak Bay

8:35 a.m. Underway.
9:10 a.m. Stopped.
9:25 a.m. Ga. S. Curlew of the Alaska Packer's Association came alongside bringing an employee of that company, Thomas Crewe, for surgical treatment. The above named man having attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat.
9:30 a.m. Anchored.
1:50 p.m. Ga. S. "Curlew" cast off, it having been decided expedient to take Thomas Crowe to Unalaska for hospital treatment.
1:55 p.m. Up anchor and underway.

It doesn't sound like a happy work environment.

Indeed it doesn't!

Today's meat packing plants, especially with covid, don't sound much better

Friday, August 18, 1922
Off Sarichef Light Station

10:25 a.m. Upon being informed by the medical officer that Thomas Crowe was in a serious condition and in need of further surgical treatment changed course to 217 heading for Unalaska. The medical officer of this vessel desiring to consult with the medical officer of the Algonquin in the case. Increased to 80 r.p.m.
5:40 p.m. Anchored Dutch Harbor.
6:45 p.m. Medical Officer of Algonquin came on board to assist the medical officer of this vessel in the operation on Thomas Crowe, patient aboard this vessel.
9:00 p.m. Medical Officer of Algonquin left vessel.