A WHALEBONE SAILCLOTH MEASURING STICK

Captain Daniel Russell (1784-1858) married Eliza Winslow on June 10, 1809 in Nantucket. This whalecloth measuring stick was probably made by his bride while he was on the whaleship Essex during the period of 1809-1818. This stick has the particular distinction of the measurement 1 Nail, which refers to a sixteenth of a yard.