CoML Structure & Column Definitions

The Census of Marine Life data are separated into four files, linkable on voyageID and date:

  • Daily vessel locations
  • Whales encountered and captured
  • Whaling vessels encountered
  • Miscellaneous whale products

Daily vessel locations—Column definitions

ColumnDescription
VoyageIDVoyage Identification Number
LatDecimal latitude
LonDecimal longitude
PosTypeSource of Lat and Lon: L=Logbook; I = Interpolated; G= Gazetteer
DayDay of Year
MonthMonth of Year
YearYear
JulNumber of days since 1 Jan 1600
StepNumber of days since previous entry
PlaceTypeCategories of geography of location
PlaceNameName of geographical location
PlaceOStopName of place where stopped
LandmarkName of landmark assigning position
LocationMoving or not moving; at sea or at a place
ActivityIn ice; not whaling, oil handling, unspecified
Comment.DTComment text by transcriber
SSInterestSomething of social science interest in log
NSInterestSomething of natural science interest in log
VesselVessel name
VesselIDVessel ID

Whales encountered and captured—Column definitions

ColumnDescription
VoyageIDVoyage Identification Number
DayDay of Year
MonthMonth of Year
YearYear
JulNumber of days since 1 Jan 1600
EncSighted whale; lowered boats; struck whale; dead whale
SpeciesCommon name of whale encountered
PluralYes = more than one; No = single whale; Unk = unknown is one or more than one
Number_StruckNumber of whales struck
Number_Tried_OutNumber of whales tried out
Barrel_YieldBarrels of oil
Escape_DetailText describing details if whale escaped
Ambiguity.EncText describing ambiguity about encounter
Comment.EncText about encounter
Wording.EncWording from logbook about encounter
Wording.STWording from logbook about strike
Comment.STText about strike

Whaling vessels encountered—Column Definitions

ColumnDescription
VoyageIDVoyage Identification Number
DayDay of Year
MonthMonth of Year
YearYear
JulNumber of days since 1 Jan 1600
LatDecimal latitude
LonDecimal longitude
VID.SpoVOYAGEID for spoken vessel
Vessel.SpoName of spoken vessel
Captain.SpoName of spoken captain
Port.SpoHome port of spoken vessel
Rig.SpoRigging of spoken vessel
Months.SpoMonths out from home port
Sperm.SpoBarrels of sperm oil on spoken vessel
Whale.SpoBarrels of whale oil on spoken vessel
UnspecifiedbblsBarrels of unspecified oil on spoken vessel
InCoWithName of vessel working in company with spoken vessel
SharedWithNo=0; Yes=1
Comment.xText by transcriber
VesselName of vessel completing logbook
VesselIDID of vessel completing logbook

Miscellaneous whale products—Column definitions

ColumnDescription
VoyageIDVoyage Identification Number
LatDecimal latitude
LonDecimal longitude
DayDay of Year
MonthMonth of Year
YearYear
JulNumber of days since 1 Jan 1600
Type.of.ProductText describing type of product
Product.AmountAmount of product
Unit.of.MeasurementUnits of Product.Amount
Handling.DescriptionText describing handling of product
Comment.MPText comment
VesselVessel name
VesselIDVessel ID