What supplies did James Cook have on his ship?

Answer 1

As refrigeration had not been invented, ships had to carry supplies of salted meat to preserve them (usually some types of pork, for example bacon). They also carried dried products that would not go rotten on long journeys, like peas and beans. As the water went stale after a few weeks at sea large quantities of beer and spirits were drunk. In those days the spirit issued was usually Brandy. It was not until the Napoleonic wars that the Royal Navy issued Rum. With the lack of fresh food scurvy was a great problem which Cook eliminated by the introduction of saurkraut into the diet. He was the first captain to do so. He lost no crew members from scurvy. He also included syrups made from citrus, as he recognised that scurvy was caused by lack of the elements carried in these juices. As there were no shipyards or shipchandlers, they carried everything needed to repair the ship such as timber, rope, sailcloth, nails, slaves, and tar. Supplies of gunpowder and ammunition were also carried on-board.