Not necessarily. A naval deserter in Nelson's time was given 300 lashes for deserting, so it is a realistic sentence. The naval cat was heavier and was laid on harder than the army version. On the other hand, men died from "only" 50 lashes.

Also, I believe the punishment might be administered over a period of time, to allow the victim time to recover. Flogging was not intended to be a means of execution, although in some cases that might be the effect.

By Prince Albert's time, the maximum sentence for one offence was 50 lashes.