Now! Then! Captain Gravill of the Diana of Hull celebrates his crew’s failure to catch a whale on the Sabbath

Excerpt

Was called this morning by the captain to see a whale which had risen near the ship at about seven o’clock. The officers on watch had lowered two boats in pursuit, contrary to the known wishes of the captain, who always has been a strict observer of the Sabbath, and never allowed the business of the voyage to be carried on upon a Sunday if he could help or prevent it.

Unfortunately, he is alone in his views and opinions upon this point. Everyone else on board considers that a whale rising near the ship is to be killed if possible, piously arguing that it is directed to them by a kind and considerate Providence for their benefit, and should be accepted more as a mark of Divine favour than anything else.

When we reflect upon the dangers and uncertainties of the voyage; the risks run in the pursuit of fish; that the crew’s pay almost entirely depends upon the success of the voyage; that most of the men are married and have families to support; that the capture even of a single fish puts a considerable sum into their pockets in the shape of oil, bone, and “striking money”; that fish are few in number and often difficult to approach; that there are other ships owned, commanded, and manned by men to whom no trick, no artifice, is too mean to resort to in order to deprive us and each other of a fish at every opportunity, one cannot wonder at our crew objecting to lose the chance of getting a fish because it happens to make its appearance near us upon a Sunday.

I do not blame them myself. Nay, rather I am disposed to entertain their views upon the Sunday fishing question. However, their efforts were unavailing to-day, much to their own chagrin and the satisfaction of the captain.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

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Original

Was called this morning by the captain to see a whale which had risen near the ship at about seven o’clock. The officers on watch had lowered two boats in pursuit, contrary to the known wishes of the captain, who always has been a strict observer of the Sabbath, and never allowed the business of the voyage to be carried on upon a Sunday if he could help or prevent it.

Unfortunately, he is alone in his views and opinions upon this point. Everyone else on board considers that a whale rising near the ship is to be killed if possible, piously arguing that it is directed to them by a kind and considerate Providence for their benefit, and should be accepted more as a mark of Divine favour than anything else.

When we reflect upon the dangers and uncertainties of the voyage; the risks run in the pursuit of fish; that the crew’s pay almost entirely depends upon the success of the voyage; that most of the men are married and have families to support; that the capture even of a single fish puts a considerable sum into their pockets in the shape of oil, bone, and “striking money”; that fish are few in number and often difficult to approach; that there are other ships owned, commanded, and manned by men to whom no trick, no artifice, is too mean to resort to in order to deprive us and each other of a fish at every opportunity, one cannot wonder at our crew objecting to lose the chance of getting a fish because it happens to make its appearance near us upon a Sunday.

I do not blame them myself. Nay, rather I am disposed to entertain their views upon the Sunday fishing question. However, their efforts were unavailing to-day, much to their own chagrin and the satisfaction of the captain.

322 words.