Log: July 26, 1890.
The CHARLES W. MORGAN was sailing on her 16th voyage in the Sea of Okhotsk near Japan. The log entry for this day states, “The wind very near Calm all day. At 6 A M Raised a Wright Whale lowered four Boats & Chased until 12 M Came aboard. Lowered again At 2 ½ P.M S.B. boat went along side hooked him with first iron missed with sec_ iron Took out half tub of line and drawed. Aught to have struck him solid with both irons”
Often times, whalemen would run into trouble successfully harpooning whales due to the harpoons themselves. Several innovations of the harpoon came as a result of this issue including the famous swiveling Temple Toggle Iron, and darting guns.
Image from log of CLARA BELL. Log 164. G.W. Blunt White Library. Mystic Seaport.