🏴☠️ Fishing piratesGrade 4Reading: grades 7-9RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Harbor Haul
A cunning fishing pirate raided the harbor vault, leaving behind cryptic clues across the docks. Clues are encoded in uppercase letters.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Rod Technique | Secret Lure | Casting Hand | Hair Style | Bait Allergy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Condent | Net Throwing | Silver Spinner | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Bright Flares |
| Mary Read | Spearfishing | Golden Spoon | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Fresh Garlic |
| George Lowther | Net Throwing | Glowing Squid | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Bright Flares |
| Thomas Tew | Spearfishing | Chum Bucket | Left Handed | Shaggy Stubble | Bright Flares |
| Henry Every | Deep Sea Jigging | Feathered Fly | Left Handed | Shaggy Stubble | Bright Flares |
| Anne Bonny | Deep Sea Jigging | Silver Spinner | Right Handed | Slicked Hair | Loud Whistles |
| Calico Jack | Deep Sea Jigging | Silver Spinner | Left Handed | Shaggy Stubble | Fresh Garlic |
| Bartholomew Roberts | Fly Casting | Feathered Fly | Left Handed | Shaggy Stubble | Loud Whistles |
| Stede Bonnet | Fly Casting | Chum Bucket | Right Handed | Slicked Hair | Loud Whistles |
| John Rackham | Fly Casting | Chum Bucket | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Bright Flares |
| Ned Low | Trolling | Feathered Fly | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Bright Flares |
| William Kidd | Fly Casting | Glowing Squid | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Fresh Garlic |
| Henry Morgan | Deep Sea Jigging | Golden Spoon | Right Handed | Shaggy Stubble | Fresh Garlic |
| Samuel Bellamy | Net Throwing | Feathered Fly | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Fresh Garlic |
| Woodes Rogers | Spearfishing | Feathered Fly | Left Handed | Shaggy Stubble | Fresh Garlic |
| Zheng Yi Sao | Trolling | Golden Spoon | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Bright Flares |
| Edward England | Deep Sea Jigging | Silver Spinner | Left Handed | Shaggy Stubble | Bright Flares |
| Roche Brasiliano | Spearfishing | Feathered Fly | Left Handed | Slicked Hair | Loud Whistles |
| Jacques Cassard | Deep Sea Jigging | Chum Bucket | Right Handed | Slicked Hair | Fresh Garlic |
| Francois lOlonnais | Deep Sea Jigging | Feathered Fly | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Fresh Garlic |
| Charles Vane | Net Throwing | Chum Bucket | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Bright Flares |
Clue 1
Rounding
The harbor sonar swept the murky channels, returning depth soundings rounded to the nearest fathom to track the culprit's escape path.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
900
1100
90
170
290
3000
3000
370
290
110
1700
4300
90
1300
110
4300
T
900
430
1300
90
370
130
90
370
T
900
1100
90
3700
90
1700
130
3000
500
Round 887 to the nearest hundredT
Round 367 to the nearest tenA
Round 1,053 to the nearest hundredH
Round 133 to the nearest tenF
Round 1,320 to the nearest hundredS
Round 4,281 to the nearest hundredO
Round 434 to the nearest tenU
Round 169 to the nearest tenV
Round 109 to the nearest tenN
Round 3,726 to the nearest hundredR
Round 1,719 to the nearest hundredD
Round 2,559 to the nearest thousandL
Round 287 to the nearest tenI
Round 91 to the nearest tenE
Round 484 to the nearest hundredY
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
You inspect the quartermaster's manifest, combining the weights of recovered crates to calculate the total loot stolen from the vault.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
2821
5630
4903
9868
5741
7624
7624
7624
9396
W
2821
8875
5741
2130
4903
3251
9396
9868
4429
5344
9396
7624
4903
5630
9868
6294
4903
3251
5741
8875
5630
9868
5741
1116 + 1705 =W
2082 + 1169 =H
2509 + 1920 =D
3807 + 5068 =L
5213 + 2411 =S
5852 + 4016 =N
2105 + 3239 =C
1080 + 1050 =F
3154 + 1749 =T
2184 + 3557 =E
3288 + 3006 =G
5485 + 3911 =A
3537 + 2093 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Comparing the dockmaster's inventory log before and after the raid reveals the exact amount of missing fishing gear.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
2826
7442
8832
7509
3874
7509
8641
3841
4178
7627
8832
7789
5505
B
2826
4178
3874
7509
5120
7789
5120
8639
3073
7789
5505
2732
4766
7442
7509
5120
8832
7789
4178
5197 - 2371 =B
12684 - 3852 =R
4794 - 28 =O
8107 - 2987 =D
9233 - 594 =T
10980 - 3191 =E
10002 - 2375 =A
8898 - 3393 =S
7063 - 3189 =I
3288 - 215 =H
8327 - 818 =N
7475 - 33 =U
3329 - 597 =C
8703 - 62 =G
7438 - 3260 =L
6334 - 2493 =F
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Examining the rack of tackle boxes, you notice several identical rows of lures and multiply them to count the culprit's stash.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
54
15
10
72
15
72
B
54
15
10
1
72
22
16
1
10
44
72
22
30
15
1
15
144
44
16
3
15
72
15
60
132
6 × 9 =B
2 × 5 =A
1 × 3 =H
12 × 11 =K
8 × 9 =D
3 × 10 =W
1 × 1 =R
11 × 2 =S
11 × 4 =N
5 × 12 =C
8 × 2 =T
3 × 5 =E
12 × 12 =O
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Dividing the salvaged gold coins equally among the local fishmongers gives you the final clue to identify the suspect.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
15 ÷ 5 = ?
20 ÷ 4 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
14 ÷ 2 = ?
42 ÷ 7 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
50 ÷ 5 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain drags a heavy troll rig behind the skiff, then dumps a smelly chum bucket in the water.
2.The villain flings a weighted net over the cargo, then flashes a silver spinner in the moonlight.
3.The villain flings a weighted net over the cargo, then dumps a smelly chum bucket in the water.
4.The villain flings a weighted net over the cargo, then distracts guards with a glowing squid.
5.The villain whips a long fly rod through the mist, then dumps a smelly chum bucket in the water.
6.The villain whips a long fly rod through the mist, then flashes a silver spinner in the moonlight.
7.The villain drags a heavy troll rig behind the skiff, then flashes a silver spinner in the moonlight.
8.The villain casts a heavy line across the harbor, then flashes a silver spinner in the moonlight.
9.The villain flings a weighted net over the cargo, then drops a feathered fly onto the deck.
10.The villain drags a heavy troll rig behind the skiff, then drops a feathered fly onto the deck.
11.The villain drags a heavy troll rig behind the skiff, then blinds lookouts with a golden spoon.
12.The villain casts a heavy line across the harbor, then drops a feathered fly onto the deck.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Harbor Haul
Culprit: Christopher Condent (Net Throwing · Silver Spinner · Left Handed · Braided Beard · Bright Flares)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A FEATHERED FLY"Round 887 to the nearest hundred = 900 (T) · Round 367 to the nearest ten = 370 (A) · Round 1,053 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (H) · Round 133 to the nearest ten = 130 (F) · Round 1,320 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (S) · Round 4,281 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (U) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (V) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (N) · Round 3,726 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (R) · Round 1,719 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (D) · Round 2,559 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (L) · Round 287 to the nearest ten = 290 (I) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (E) · Round 484 to the nearest hundred = 500 (Y)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "WITNESS SAW LEFT HAND CASTING THE LINE"1116 + 1705 = 2821 (W) · 2082 + 1169 = 3251 (H) · 2509 + 1920 = 4429 (D) · 3807 + 5068 = 8875 (L) · 5213 + 2411 = 7624 (S) · 5852 + 4016 = 9868 (N) · 2105 + 3239 = 5344 (C) · 1080 + 1050 = 2130 (F) · 3154 + 1749 = 4903 (T) · 2184 + 3557 = 5741 (E) · 3288 + 3006 = 6294 (G) · 5485 + 3911 = 9396 (A) · 3537 + 2093 = 5630 (I)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "BURNING FLARES BLINDED THE SCOUNDREL"5197 - 2371 = 2826 (B) · 12684 - 3852 = 8832 (R) · 4794 - 28 = 4766 (O) · 8107 - 2987 = 5120 (D) · 9233 - 594 = 8639 (T) · 10980 - 3191 = 7789 (E) · 10002 - 2375 = 7627 (A) · 8898 - 3393 = 5505 (S) · 7063 - 3189 = 3874 (I) · 3288 - 215 = 3073 (H) · 8327 - 818 = 7509 (N) · 7475 - 33 = 7442 (U) · 3329 - 597 = 2732 (C) · 8703 - 62 = 8641 (G) · 7438 - 3260 = 4178 (L) · 6334 - 2493 = 3841 (F)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "BEADED BEARD STRANDS WERE ON THE DECK"6 × 9 = 54 (B) · 2 × 5 = 10 (A) · 1 × 3 = 3 (H) · 12 × 11 = 132 (K) · 8 × 9 = 72 (D) · 3 × 10 = 30 (W) · 1 × 1 = 1 (R) · 11 × 2 = 22 (S) · 11 × 4 = 44 (N) · 5 × 12 = 60 (C) · 8 × 2 = 16 (T) · 3 × 5 = 15 (E) · 12 × 12 = 144 (O)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Christopher Condent15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 20 ÷ 4 = 5 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Harbor Haul — set in The foggy docks of Port Tackle
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects