Journal kept by Captain Harding master of the bark STERLING

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Journal kept by Captain Harding master of the bark STERLING

Author Captain Harding

Date1868

Object number00008280

NameLogbook

MediumLeather, boards, Ink on paper

DimensionsOverall: 13 x 210 x 177 mm, 0.4 kg

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionThis journal was kept by Captain Hiram Harding, the master of the bark STERLING. He maintained a daily journal of his voyage from Boston to Melbourne. The vessel sailed on 11 March and arrived on 23 June, 1868. HistoryAmerican traders, whalers and sealers roamed Australian waters from the early days of the colony. For the young colony of Sydney, seaborne trade was its lifeline. Many of the early merchant vessels were American traders on their way to China. Sealers and then whalers came to Australia seeking to fill their ships' holds with skins toil. By the latter half of the 19th century, shipping lines advertised regular sailings between Australia and America.SignificanceThis journal is an important record of life onboard a whaling vessel in the 19th century.