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The Whaling Journal of Captain W. B. Rhodes: Barque Australian of Sydney 1836 - 1838
6. Signals from the 'Australian' to the Whale Boats
page 97
6. Signals from the 'Australian' to the Whale Boats
| Whales Ahead | Jib up and down 2 or three times |
| Weather Bow | Weather clew of the ∗Fore Topsail (∗ or Top Gallant Sail) |
| Lee do | Lee do do do do |
| Starbd. Beam | Ensign at the Mizen |
| Larbd. do | Union Jack do |
| Astern | Ships Burgee Blue & white |
| Weather Quarter | Brail the Mizen up and have it out 2 or 3 times. |
| Lee Quarter | Brail the Mizen up and let it remain so |
| Whales between the Ship and the Boats | Masthead Flag up and down and half Mast |
| One Boats recall | Whiff1 at the Gaff |
| Recall for all Boats | Ensign at the Gaff |
| Distance of Whales from the Ship to be indicated by small Flags at the Mizen Gaff one to a mile. | |
| Whales to windward of the weather Boat | Two Flags at the Mizenpage 98 |
| Whales to Leeward of the Boats | Two Flags at the Gaff |
Boat fast to a Whale and wants assistance—
One Whiff
Stove Boat and wants assistance—
All the whiffs, or not less than one head and stern; the nearest Boat must go to her assistance as well as the Ship.
Should a Strange Ship be in company and it is not desirous that she should understand the signals they are all to be reversed.
1 The whiffs (or whifts) were small flags usually carried by the boats.