,illustration ,illustration3 ,,under ,,sail ,a ,yankee whaling barque of the fifties ,,greasy ,,luck ,illustration3 ,sailor holding harpoon ,a ,,whaling ,,sketch ,,book by ,,gordon ,,grant ,,william ,,farquhar ,,payson ,,new ,,york ,,caravan ,,maritime ,,books ,,jamaica1 ,,new ,,york #aigj ,,copyright1 #aicb ,,william ,,farquhar ,,payson ,,new ,,york ,,caravan ,,maritime ,,books ,,jamaica1 ,,new ,,york ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america by ,,sentry ,,press1 ,,new ,,york1 ,n4 ,y4 #ajjai ,illustration3 ,sea gull ,,to ,,my ,,wife a lover of ships ,illustration3 ,whale ,the author gratefully acknowledges his debt to ,,frank ,,wood and ,,william ,h4 ,,tripp of the ,whaling ,museum of ,new ,bedford1 for their splendid cooperation--and to ,,clifford ,w4 ,,ashley and his most admirable book 8,the ,yankee ,whaler0 ,,foreword ,turning the pages of ,gordon ,grant's pictured story of whaling1 it suddenly struck me that the task of writing an introduction had certain unusual features4 ,acting as a liaison officer between ,captain ,ahab of the whaling ship ,pequod and the sheltered generation of #aicb1 it is necessary to bear in mind that most members of this generation are unaware that whaling is still an industry4 ,they imagine it as part of the closed book of ,new ,england maritime history4 ,they regard it romantically1 and the ancient masthead shout1 8,thar she blows60 is familiar to the ladies and gentlemen who patronize the fast ,atlantic ferries4 ,whaling1 in short1 has become an antique interest1 and visitors to ,new ,bedford may study the whole business in the collection of the ,old ,dartmouth ,historical ,society4 ,the difference between this adventurous and romantic calling and the modern whaleship is precisely the difference between pig-sticking as practised by army officers in ,india and the stock-yards of ,chicago and ,argentina4 ,making all allowance for the ,new ,englander's passion for gain1 there had to be some sporting instinct to send men out on 8lays0 instead of wages1 and to make them follow1 year after year1 so dangerous a trade4 ,it was only when another sporting chance came along1 the chance of the golden west1 of striking further and further beyond the ranges1 that the ,new ,englanders abandoned the whaling to foreigners4 ,the interest our antiquarians have in whaling is therefore a sound one4 ,it was a manifestation of the pioneer mentality2 and when that mentality was directed into other channels1 whaling lost prestige and became as prosaic as cod-fishing in modern times4 ,it might be mentioned here that the two instincts of civilized man--to make a sport of his necessities1 and then by quantity production in factories to divorce all sport from his necessities--have been spectacularly illustrated in the evolution of whaling from a sport for heroes into a humdrum manifestation of big business4 ,efficiency has never been so swiftly or so deplorably justified4 ,at one end of the scale we have ,captain ,ahab devoting all his life to the pursuit of a mythological cetacean1 the ,white ,whale4 ,at the other1 in #aicb1 we have ,british and ,scandinavian whaling factories1 twin screw1 oil-burning vessels of #ad1jjj tons1 capable of pursuing whales of all species in high speed motor whaleboats fitted with guns and bombs1 with air pumps which inflate the dead whale so that it will float until needed4 ,these ships have a specially designed stern slipway1 up which the entire carcase of a #ajj ton whale can be hauled from the water to the blubber deck4 ,when the blubber has been removed the carcase is sawn by machinery into sections and lowered to the meat deck4 ,nothing of the animal is wasted4 ,a packing factory on board cans and packs the products ready for discharging at a convenient port into freight steamers4 ,fuel-oil and water1 which is distilled on board1 supplies a whole fleet of auxiliary whaling vessels4 ,here we behold the modern commercial and mechanical genius at its peak4 ,it is so efficient that unless some legislative action is taken1 whales will become extinct4 ,in two years these vessels have obtained more oil and have killed more whales than the old ,american whalers took from the sea in half a century4 ,it is true1 as a recent author contends1 that whaling is not properly described as fishing4 ,the whale is an animal1 and his pursuit is a form of hunting4 ,in ,gordon ,grant's drawings the whole art and craft of catching whales is most lucidly and dramatically set forth4 ,it is sport because the hunters risked their lives when the harpoon left the boatsteerer's hands to plunge into the whale's carcase4 ,they were in the most dire peril of a 8stove0 or a 8chawed0 boat until the animal's terrific struggles were ended by the thrust of a lance through his vitals4 ,in modern whaling the operatives are in no more danger than the person who slits the jugular veins of the hogs suspended by their hind legs on a moving chain in a ,chicago abattoir4 ,i doubt exceedingly whether these modern whalers will ever have any songs or traditions4 ,all too soon they will1 as ,i understand it1 have no more whales4 ,they will have become history themselves without ever having become known to the public4 ,if by chance the captain of the ,vikingen1 of the ,viking ,whaling ,company1 ,limited1 of ,london1 ever meets ,moby ,dick1 he will order full speed ahead on his #dcjj horsepower and overhaul the ,white ,whale in a few hours4 ,a few days later he will be in sealed cans4 ,ships1 and especially sailing craft1 are the unhappy victims of artists who know more about pretty pictures than ships4 ,they take quite felonious liberties with the craft and the men they depict4 ,in 8,greasy ,luck0 however1 you will find the most austere fidelity to the truth combined with what to me is a most satisfying vivacity of presentation4 ,i commend to your notice the lowered whaleboat on page #ei as an example of what ,i mean4 ,such a boat was an instrument to which men entrusted their lives and fortunes4 ,it was the product of deep thought and shrewd designing for a century4 ,it was1 as one writer says1 8sharp and clean-cut as a dolphin0 with 8a duck-like capacity to top the oncoming waves1 so that it will dryly ride where ordinary boats would fill4444 ,here we have a boat that two men may lift1 and which will make ten miles an hour in dead chase by the oars alone40 ,such a craft has a beauty of its own1 not to be found in pleasure craft4 ,the same boat is shown at a dramatic moment of 8,a ,nantucket ,sleigh ,ride0 on page #ge4 ,it appears to me that ,mr4 ,grant has made a definitive and conclusive contribution to ,whaliana4 ,if the whales go the way of the buffalo of ,north ,america1 we shall depend on this book for a lively conception of the ancient sport4 ,ships and wild animals1 it has been remarked1 have a hard and tragic ending4 ,this book will preserve for posterity the spiritual as well as the material glories of the whaler's life4 ,illustration3 ,william ,mc,fee's signature ,,list ,,of ,,plates ,under ,sail ,frontispiece ,fitting ,out ,facing ,page #b ,hoisting ,topsails #d ,choosing ,boats' ,crews #f ,a ,harangue from the ,captain #h ,getting in the ,mainsail #aj ,stowing the ,outer ,jib #ab ,a ,typical ,bow #ad ,a ,typical ,stern #af ,the ,deck #ah ,the ,whaleboat #bj ,a ,boat on the ,cranes #bb ,spare ,boats #bd ,harpoons #bf ,the ,wheel #bh ,the ,foc's'le #cj ,the ,windlass #cb ,the ,galley #cd ,types #cf ,the ,blacksmith #ch ,the ,cooper #dj ,grinding ,spades #db ,coiling ,line ,tubs #dd ,ten ,dollars ,reward #df ,grub #dh ,fresh ,fish for the ,cook to ,spoil #ej ,whales #eb ,whales #ed ,the ,masthead #ef ,lowering #eh ,a ,race ,under ,sail #fj ,waifing #fb 8,going ,on0 #fd 8,give it to him60 #ff ,sounding #fh ,a ,breach #gj ,a 8,chawed0 ,boat #gb 8,a ,nantucket ,sleigh ,ride0 #gd ,lancing #gf ,towing to the ,ship #gh ,cutting-in ,diagram #hj ,removing the ,lower ,jaw #hb ,the ,junk #hd ,cutting ,in #hf ,the ,blanket ,piece ,coming ,aboard #hh ,lowering into the ,hold #ij ,mincing #ib ,trying ,out #id ,bailing the ,case #if ,cleaning ,ship #ih ,main ,hatch ,surgery #ajj ,boat ,surgery #ajb ,ashore for ,water #ajd ,having it ,out #ajf ,recruiting on the ,beach #ajh ,a 8,gam0 #aaj ,song and ,dance #aab ,bumboats #aad ,arctic ,whaling #aaf ,whalebone #aah ,cleaning ,whalebone #abj ,dead ,man's ,chest #abb ,homeward ,bound #abd 8,scrimshaw0 #abf ,,sketches ,,fitting ,,out ,the last few days prior to a ship's departure on a whaling voyage witnessed great activity along the wharves of all whaling ports3 ,new ,bedford1 ,fairhaven1 ,nantucket1 ,sag ,harbor1 ,salem1 and ,new ,london1 to note but a few in ,new ,england2 in ,dundee1 ,scotland1 and ,bergen in ,norway4 ,with the prospect of a voyage lasting perhaps three years1 no item of gear for the ship or provision for the crew was overlooked4 ,on sailing day1 with everything checked off and stowed below1 the crew came aboard1 the owners1 their wives1 and the townspeople crowded the wharf to cheer them on their way and wish them 8,greasy ,luck40 ,illustration ,,hoisting ,,topsails ,the work of the merchant ship sailor had but one object2 to take the ship by the shortest route from port to port4 ,the whaleman1 on the other hand1 in addition to his seamanship1 was expert in the highly technical work of killing whales4 ,while the whaling skippers lacked the smartness of the clipper captains they were able1 keen1 and resourceful in emergencies that the merchant ship masters seldom1 if ever1 were called upon to face4 ,illustration ,,choosing ,,boats' ,,crews ,soon after the ship was on her course the crew was mustered and divided into two watches--starboard and larboard--7the word 8port0 was not used in whaleships74 ,this done1 the boats' crews were chosen1 consisting of an officer1 harpooneer1 and four men4 ,the mates in turn took their pick of the men for their respective boats1 subjected their choice to questions regarding former ships and experience1 and an inspection of hands1 feet1 and muscular development--much like farmers at a cattle show4 ,the harpooneers were called 8boatsteerers10 which1 to the landsman1 is somewhat misleading4 ,the mate steered the boat until the harpooneer struck the whale4 ,they thereupon changed places and the latter became 8boatsteerer40 ,the boatsteerers ranked next to the officers1--were quartered aft1 and had a separate mess4 ,illustration ,a ,,harangue ,,from ,,the ,,captain ,the watches and boats' crews chosen1 the captain called for attention and delivered himself of a speech4 ,the gist of his message did not vary much from that of all other whaling skippers and his delivery was more or less colourful according to his ability as an orator4 ,running his eye from man to man1 so that none escaped the implied meaning behind the glance1 he would voice his thoughts substantially as follows3--8,this ship is a whaler and we're out to kill whales4 ,i tell you that now in case you might think you're aboard a yacht and came along for a picnic4 ,i'm captain and these are my officers1 and when an order is given ,i want to see some jumping4 ,i don't want any loafers or grumblers4 ,loafers and grumblers only make trouble for themselves1 and if any of you want trouble ,i'll see that you damned well get it4 ,you'll get good food and all you need--so ,i don't want to hear any growling about that4 ,i won't have any fighting or swearing4 ,the sooner you fill the ship the sooner you'll get home3--and remember2 there's only one captain aboard here and that's me4 ,if anyone wants to dispute that ,i'll damned soon show him4 ,that'll do----0 ,illustration ,,getting ,,in ,,the ,,mainsail ,to the watch1 bending over the yard with nought between them and oblivion but a slender foot rope1 this was no easy task even in a moderate wind4 ,in a gale1 with wet or frozen sails1 the stowing of this huge expanse of thrashing canvas can be better imagined than described4 ,illustration ,,stowing ,,the ,,outer ,,jib ,illustration ,a ,,typical ,,bow ,here we have the bows of the barque 8,california0 of ,new ,bedford1 built in the early eighteen forties4 ,square-rigged whaling craft varied in size from two hundred and fifty to four hundred tons1 seldom exceeding the latter figure4 ,many were painted 8frigate fashion0 with black ports along the side--a relic of the days when merchant ships used this device to deceive pirates into the belief that they were heavily armed4 ,the whaler had a beauty peculiarly her own4 ,she was rather a tubby little thing1 but with much grace notwithstanding4 ,she was held in supreme contempt by the officers and crews of her contemporaneous big sisters the flash clippers1 who referred to her as 8spouter0 and 8butcher shop40 ,illustration ,a ,,typical ,,stern ,unlike merchant ships1 whalers had to keep their forward deck clear so that all space could be devoted to the 8cutting in0 and 8trying out0 of blubber4 ,the forward deck-house1 characteristic of cargo carriers1 which contained the gallery and crew's quarters1 was moved far aft--half to starboard--half to larboard--with a deck overhead from which the quarter-boats were lowered4 ,the stern shown is that of 8,lagoda10 a half size model of which has been installed in the ,whaling ,museum in ,new ,bedford4 ,illustration ,,the ,,deck ,this diagram shows the deck arrangement of 8,lagoda0 of ,new ,bedford and was characteristic of all square-rigged whalers4 ,a--,b--,c--,d--,e--,boats hanging on the davits4 ,many ships did not swing a boat in the position of 8,b40 ,in their order the boats were named as follows3--8,bow0--8,starboard ,bow0--8,waist0--8,larboard0--8,starboar d40 ,the latter was known as the captain's boat1 though in later years the captain did not leave the ship4 ,the first mate had the larboard boat--second mate the waist--third mate the bow4 ,the senior boatsteerer took the starboard bow boat unless the ship carried a fourth mate4 ,f--,spare boats on the skids--or boat bridge4 ,g--,the main hatch4 ,h--,the try works4 ,j--,the steering wheel4--,to left of the wheel1 the companion stairs to captain's quarters4 ,k--,the galley4 ,l--,the 8cutting-in0 stage4 ,at this point a section of the bulwarks was removed during cutting in4 ,m--,the foc's'le hatch leading to crew's quarters below4 ,n--,the windlass4 ,illustration ,the ,whaleboat ,boats varied from #bh to #cj feet in length1 with a beam of #e-a_/b to #f feet4 ,a--,bow showing the 8chocks10 a channel in the stem through which the whale line ran4 ,this was fitted with a bronze roller--or lined with sheet lead4 ,through a hole across the chocks a slender spindle of wood was inserted--to be easily broken should necessity arise4 ,this 8chock pin0 kept the line from jumping out of its groove1--and was1 moreover1 when worn in the buttonhole ashore1 the badge of the whaleman who had killed his whale4 ,b--,main line tub--containing #bbe fathoms of whale line4 ,c--,reserve tub--holding from #ge to #abe fathoms4 ,d--,loggerhead--a heavy snubbing post around which the whale line ran from the tub and thence forward to the bow4 ,e--,mast step4 ,f--,padded notch in the edge of the forward box into which the harpooneer braced his thigh when darting his irons4 ,l--,centreboard4 ,except when under sail the boat was propelled by five oars1 and in order to balance the power from this unequal number1 oars of different lengths were used4 ,g--,harpoon oar #af feet long ,h--,bow oar #ag 8 8 ,i--,midship oar #ah 8 8 ,j--,tub oar #ag 8 8 ,k--,after or stroke oar #af 8 8 ,except when under sail the boat was steered by means of an oar over twenty feet long4 ,the complete equipment of a boat included paddles1 harpoons1 lances1 spades1 mast and sail1 water and bread kegs1 lantern1 flares and waifs1 and other small gear4 ,illustration ,a ,,boat ,,on ,,the ,,cranes ,the whaleboat was so lightly constructed that had it been allowed to hang by the hoisting tackle or 8falls10 there was danger of it 8hogging0 or breaking its back4 ,to obviate this 8supporters0 were provided to sustain part of the weight4 ,these 8cranes0 were hinged and were swung in when the boats were lowered4 ,after a boat was hoisted1 the tubs were removed in order to further lighten her4 ,the tubs were kept on a rack abreast of the boat1 inboard1 and the preparatory order before lowering was 8,get your tubs aboard40 ,illustration ,,spare ,,boats ,two spare boats were carried thus on the skids1 and were brought into use when one or more of the others were 8stove0 or destroyed4 ,under these spares were racks on which cutting spades and such gear were stowed4 ,this view is looking forward from the deck over the wheel4 ,illustration ,,harpoons ,the purpose of the harpoon was not to kill the whale but to be a means of 8getting fast0 with the whale line4 ,the killing was done with the lance--a long shanked instrument with a small razor-sharp tip4 ,from earliest times the whaleman had endeavoured to fashion a harpoon that would not 8draw0 or pull out4 ,many variations had been tried of the solid head type of 8iron10 but they all gave way before the 8toggle0 iron1 invented by a ,negro named ,lewis ,temple in #ahdh4 ,the sketch shows only the principal types--and the large variety of bombs and bomb guns has been omitted2 they savour too much of modern methods and wholesale slaughter4 ,a--,two flued iron4 ,b--,single flued iron4 ,c--,temple's toggle iron4 ,d--,modern toggle iron4 ,in the toggles a wooden match-like pin was inserted through the head of the harpoon to hold it straight4 ,this broke as soon as pull was exerted on the line and the head turned as shown in fig4 ,e4 ,f--,an effective darting gun used against ,right and ,bowhead whales4 ,a short gun barrel was mounted on the end of the pole4 ,on one side of this was inserted a harpoon attached to the line4 ,reaching half way to the point was a rod1 which on coming in contact with the skin of the whale1 exploded the charge in the chamber and discharged a bomb4 ,the whole instrument was thrown in the same manner as a harpoon1 the gun-pole being retrieved by a line attached to the boat1 the iron remaining in the whale4 ,except in the case of lone bulls1 guns were of no use among sperm whales2 the discharge scared the herd--or as the whaleman said1 8gallied the pod40 ,g--,an ,english double flued iron with 8stop withers40 ,h--,the ,greener gun--used by ,dundee whalers in the ,arctic4 ,j--,the harpoon--with slot and travelling ring--fired from the ,greener gun4 ,illustration ,,the ,,wheel ,this type of steering wheel known as 8shin cracker0 was peculiar to the ,yankee whaleships4 ,the wheel was mounted on the tiller and the helm was moved by means of tackle which ran around the drum1 through sheaves and blocks to the bulwarks4 ,consequently1 when the steersman turned the wheel he walked back and forward with it across the deck4 ,in the deck over him there was a small hatch through which he could watch the sails4 ,illustration ,,the ,,foc',s',,le ,the foc's'le was reached by a hatch1 forward of the mainmast1 which also served as the only inlet for daylight and fresh air4 ,in some cases the ceiling was so low that any man above average height could not stand upright4 ,in heavy weather the deck was never dry1 due to leaky hawse pipes and dripping oilskins1 and in the tropics it was a furnace4 ,altogether1 the combined odours of unwashed bodies1 unwashed clothes1 bilge water1 tobacco and oil lanterns1 made it a noisome habitation4 ,the men's bunks were ranged in a double tier along the sides and their sea chests1 lashed to the deck1 served as benches4 ,illustration ,,the ,,windlass ,this ancient contrivance known as a log windlass was only a slight improvement over its predecessor in which the barrel was laboriously turned by wooden bars or 8handspikes0 inserted in holes4 ,in the one shown a ratchet mechanism was added1 and when weighing anchor or cutting in a whale1 four or five men on each side pumped the brake handles up and down4 ,one has but to compare this heartbreaking relic to the modern steam or electric winch to appreciate the truth of the captain's allusion to a yachting cruise4 ,illustration ,,the ,,galley ,here the cook1 or 8doctor0 as he was called1 prepared the food for officers and crew4 ,the galley was located aft on the starboard side1 abreast of the wheel1 where the steersman might get an occasional cup of coffee from the cook to ease his trick at the wheel4 ,how different to the case of the man at the wheel in merchant ships1 stamping his feet and blowing on his fingers in the roaring forties1 and looking with wistful eyes towards the galley at the far end of the deck4 ,illustration ,,types ,the crews of ,yankee whalers up to1 and including1 the fifties were made up mostly of ,americans drawn from the neighbourhood of the ships' home port4 ,as the great ,west opened up1 the movement overland diverted the native ,american from the sea1 and in the declining years of the industry crews were composed mainly of ,portuguese1 ,negroes1 and ,bravas from the ,cape ,verde ,islands4 ,whaling crews were not paid wages but were given a 8lay10 or share in the profits at the end of the voyage4 ,the lay scale was graded down from #a_/afth for the captain to #a_/bjjth for a green hand--and even less to the cabin boy4 ,at the end of a long voyage1 when the ship was credited with oil valued at #bej1jjj1 or more1 the sailors' share was quite worth while4 ,illustration ,,the ,,blacksmith ,the blacksmith's duties lay in the care of all the harpoons1 spades1 lances1 boarding and mincing knives1 and kindred gear4 ,when whales were being killed and brought alongside he was a busy man1 straightening and repairing irons1 and keeping the cutting-in stage supplied with keen-edged spades4 ,illustration ,,the ,,cooper ,when a whaleship set out on a voyage she was loaded from keel to deck with casks of various sizes1 from the largest1 of fourteen barrel capacity1 to long1 narrow ones1 known as 8ryers10 used to fill empty spaces and odd corners4 ,many of them were filled with fresh water to serve as ballast1 and all the spare sails1 food1 clothing 7slops7 and other reserve articles were headed up in casks4 ,in due course they were emptied and filled with oil1 and the cooper's task was to keep them in good condition1 and1 if need arose1 to construct new ones from the staves1 heads and hoops which he had in reserve4 ,the term 8barrel0 was only used as a unit of measure3--a cask was spoken of as an eight barrel cask or a whale's size was reckoned in so many barrels4 ,an average whaler carried in the neighbourhood of five hundred casks of all sizes1 and the keeping of them in serviceable condition involved constant watchfulness and work on the cooper's part4 ,illustration ,,grinding ,,spades ,no one was busier than the ship's boy4 ,helping the steward in the pantry1 turning the grindstone1 peeling potatoes for the cook1 or running aloft to tie stops in the buntlines1 he was kept hopping from one job to another4 ,he doubtless found ere long that whaling was not as romantic a pursuit as he had dreamed it to be1 and cried himself to sleep in homesickness many times before the end of the voyage4 ,illustration ,,coiling ,,line ,,tubs ,the coiling of the whale line in the boats' tubs was a matter demanding extreme care1 as not only did the catching of whales depend on the line1 but improper coiling might produce sudden kinks and fouling1 to result in the maiming or killing of one or more of the crew1 or even the loss of the boat itself4 ,whale line was made of 8long manila fibre0 and was three quarters of an inch in diameter4 ,even when new it was as pliable as an old shoe lace and capable of sustaining a weight of three tons4 ,in coiling1 the line was laid out on deck1 the end passed through a snatch block on the mainstay over head1 and thence down to the tub4 ,the end1 with its eye splice1 was left hanging over the edge of the tub where it could be bent onto the second tub should necessity arise4 ,the line was coiled clockwise to the centre1 thence to the side1 and the process repeated until the tub was full4 ,this was known as a 8flake0 or 8,flemish coil40 ,each boatsteerer attended to the coiling of his own tubs1 a helper meanwhile twisted the line to the left as he pulled it down through the block4 ,illustration ,,ten ,,dollars ,,reward ,in some ships1 when whales were scarce1 and weeks--even months--elapsed without a kill it was the custom for the captain to have a five or ten dollar gold piece nailed to the mainmast to be claimed by the first man who sighted a 8blow40 ,illustration ,,grub 8,what's this--the cook's pocketbook80 ,jack always ate his meals on deck except in inclement weather4 ,salt beef or pork1 cooked in a sadly unvarying fashion1 was served in small wooden tubs called 8kids10 and the sailor's treasured privilege1 no matter what the quality of the fare might be1 was to make uncomplimentary remarks about the cook and all his ancestors4 ,illustration 8,,fresh ,,fish ,,for ,,the ,,cook ,,to ,,spoil0 ,in the warmer latitudes there were always fish playing about the ship's bows3 bonita1 barracouta1 dolphins and porpoises---- ,to vary the weary round of salt 8horse0 it was no trick at all for one of the boatsteerers to take himself into the martingale stays and bring up a fish that would arouse the envy of any landlubber angler4 ,illustration ,,whales #a--,,sperm ,,whale4 ,this whale was long avoided by the early whalemen before means were perfected to meet his wary and pugnacious character4 ,a large sperm whale would measure sixty-five feet and give eighty barrels of oil4 ,many larger ones have been taken but the average gave forty-five barrels4 ,its natural food is the giant squid1 which it finds at profound depths--a half mile or more4 ,sperm whales are usually found in herds or 8pods10 except in the case of occasional 8lone bulls40 #b--,,right ,,whale4 ,this is the whale of the early history of the industry--docile and easy to take--whose only means of defence lay in its great tail or 8flukes40 ,this and the ,bowhead were known as 8,baleen0 or whalebone whales4 ,they feed on the surface--their food being small crustacea or 8brit10 which they scoop up with open mouth and strain through the rows of baleen which hang from the upper jaw4 #c--;,,bowhead ,,whale4 ,the ,arctic or ,greenland whale4 ,living in the cold waters of the high latitudes the blubber of this species is much thicker than that of ,sperm or ,right1 one ,bowhead rendering as much as three hundred barrels4 ,the quality of its oil1 however1 is much inferior to sperm oil1 and for years it was hunted for its whalebone alone4 ,illustration ,,whales #d--;,,finback ,,whale4 ,this and the ,sulphurbottom are much longer than the ,sperm1 ,right1 and ,bowhead--but were ignored because of the fact that they sank when killed1 and because of their rapidity of movement1 claimed by some to be as much as fifty miles an hour4 ,modern whalers have met these difficulties by employing fast motor boats and by inflating the dead whale with compressed air4 #e--,,sulphurbottom--or ,,blue ,,whale4 ,the longest of the whale family4 ,some specimens have been taken exceeding one hundred feet in length4 #f--;,,humpback ,,whale4 ,this whale is one of the 8bone0 species1 but its baleen was too short to be of commercial value4 ,it sank when killed1 but as it was almost always found in shoal water gases due to decomposition brought it to the surface in a short time4 ,illustration ,,the ,,masthead ,from the day of sailing until the home port was reached at the end of a long voyage1 lookouts were always kept at the fore and mainmastheads4 ,even with his ship 8full to the eyebrows0 the whaling skipper could not resist the taking of one more whale1 until every possible container1 large and small1 was full to running over4 ,the call of the lookout was a sort of wail1 running through a scale of five or six notes1 each man putting in his own curlicues according to the quality of his voice4 ,he would sustain the call as long as the blow lasted3 8,a blow6--,a blo-o-o-o-ow6 ,a blow4 ,a blow660 8,where away80 from the skipper4 8,two miles--weather beam--,blo-o-o-ow6 ,blo-o-o-o-6 ,there she breaches--,a blo-o-o-ow6 ,a blow6--,a blow60 ,illustration ,,lowering ,the boats were kept ready for instant lowering4 ,the tubs were first put aboard and a man took his station at each of the 8falls0 or davit tackles1 one man remaining in the boat to fend her off the side of the ship4 8,lower away60 ,down went the boats1 the crew following the best way they could1 sliding down the falls or scrambling down the side4 ,the hooks were cast off1 mast stepped1 sail hoisted1 and the race for the whale began4 ,illustration ,a ,,race ,,under ,,sail ,when the wind was favourable the approach was made under sail4 ,various rigs were used3 lug1 spritsail1 and sometimes a jib was set1 all designed1 however1 for quick manipulation4 ,when sailing1 the boat was steered by a rudder2 at all other times by the long steering oar4 ,meantime the harpooneer was busy with the whale line1 running it from the tub1 round the loggerhead and forward to the chocks1 coiling the 8box warp0 and attaching his two irons4 ,illustration ,,waifing ,when a heavy swell was running it was often impossible for the men in the boats to see the whale1 so the lookout at the masthead signalled the direction by means of a flag or 8waif40 ,illustration 8,,going ,,on0 ,the angle of vision of the whale was very limited1 so the approach was made1 if possible1 from the right rear1 except in the case of a left handed boatsteerer4 ,on nearing the quarry oars were sometimes replaced by paddles4 ,at the right moment the officer made a sign to the boatsteerer to stand by4 ,the latter unshipped his oar and looked to his harpoons to see that all was clear4 ,a second iron was attached by a 8short warp0 on a running bowline to the whale line1 and lay handy1 alongside number one4 ,the boatsteerer did not lift his harpoon and stand poised in readiness4 ,in the excitement attending the crucial moment1 he might succumb to buck-fever and be unable to let go4 ,instead--he flexed his fingers or rubbed his hands up and down his legs1 his eye on the whale1 waiting for the command4 ,illustration 8,,give ,,it ,,to ,,him60 ,like a flash he grasped his iron1 and with every ounce of his strength darted it 8up to the hitches40 ,then the second iron if possible4 ,if the second could not be used1 it was at once thrown overboard1 out of the way1 to be retrieved later4 ,illustration ,,sounding ,the instant command was 8,stern all660--and the boat was backed out of range of the great flaying tail4 ,many things might happen in the next few moments4 ,the whale might 8run0--he might turn and attack the boat with open jaws1 or 8sound40 ,the boatsteerer and the officer exchanged places4 ,the line ran out at such speed that water had to be thrown into the tub to prevent the line setting fire to the loggerhead4 ,illustration ,a ,,breach ,should the whale sound1 he would stay down an hour or longer1 taking out at times all the line of one or more boats4 ,if he took all from one and no neighbouring boat was handy to supply more1 a wooden contrivance for retarding his speed called a 8drug0 was made fast to the end of the line and cast loose4 ,the men peaked their oars1 waiting for the whale to reappear4 ,his reappearance was not a modest drifting to the surface4 ,he was thoroughly enraged1 and he came up in a manner dramatic and picturesque4 ,suddenly1 with the speed of an express train1 he rose from the bottom1 often making a clean leap out of the water and coming down with a mighty splash4 ,lucky the boat's crew that was not caught underneath4 ,illustration ,a 8,,chawed0 ,,boat ,a fighting bull sperm would often turn and attack the boat1 and only the skill of the boatsteerer kept it out of range of the snapping jaws and thrashing flukes4 ,boats have been destroyed at one mouthful1 and those of the crew as were unable to leap clear4 ,such was the rage of some whales that they returned again and again to the broken fragments until they were reduced to matchwood4 ,illustration 8,a ,,nantucket ,,sleigh ,,ride0 ,should the whale run the crew unshipped their oars and faced forward1 a turn of the line was made round the loggerhead1 and 8playing the fish0 began4 ,the boat's tub and loggerhead were the equivalent of the reel on the trout fisherman's rod1 and the same tactics were employed as in trout fishing1 except that the boat followed the whale at a speed of fifteen or more knots an hour4 ,the boatsteerer snubbed the line by the loggerhead and the crew at each indication of slackening of speed hauled in4 ,shorter and shorter the line grew as the whale tired1 and closer to his flank drew the boat's bow1 where the mate stood ready to exercise his time honoured privilege of delivering the final thrust4 ,a ,nantucket sleigh ride1 as it was called1 often took the boat miles beyond the horizon1 and the crew were often obliged to wait many hours1 even days1 to be picked up by the ship1--indeed in cases of storm or fog there are tragic instances of boats never having been found4 ,illustration ,,lancing ,to kill the whale at a single thrust required the greatest skill1 and the boat to be laid on at the right spot4 ,the mate1 awaiting the moment when he could reach the 8life10 made repeated thrusts with his lance in order to weaken the victim4 ,the success of the final stroke was proclaimed by 8spouting red0--and the dying whale went into a 8flurry10 which consisted of swimming round in a gradually diminishing circle until with a final thrashing of his giant flukes he rolled over on his side 8fin out40 ,illustration ,,towing ,,to ,,the ,,ship ,if more whales were in the vicinity1 the dead one was 8waifed0 with a small red flag and the pursuit resumed4 ,a whale usually ran to windward--leaving the ship far to leeward1 shorthanded1 and faced with a long beat to pick up her boats4 ,a line was made fast by a hole cut in the flukes1 the boats were connected1 and all hands put their backs into the arduous task of towing back to the ship4 ,illustration ,,cutting-,,in ,,diagram ,a--,jaw of the ,sperm whale ,b--,case ,c--,junk ,d--,white ,horse ,e--,blanket or blubber1 which was stripped from the carcass in a spiral fashion4 ,the blubber hook was inserted in a hole1 f1 for the first cut4 ,g--,h--,head and lips of the ,bowhead4 ,the latter were very rich in oil4 ,the same method of stripping was employed in all species of whales4 ,illustration ,,removing ,,the ,,lower ,,jaw ,,of ,a ,,sperm ,,whale ,cutting in was always done on the starboard side of the ship1 and if possible1 to windward1 so that wind pressure on the sails tended to lift the side of the vessel and sustain the great weight of blubber coming aboard4 ,the sketch shows the cutting stage rigged out1 the huge tackle made fast to the jaw1 and the mates on the stage disjointing it with their spades4 ,the jaw had no commercial value whatever4 ,when a particularly large one was taken1 stripped1 and dried1 it made a picturesque gateway for the captain's garden at home1 and the great teeth were used by the crew for their 8scrimshaw0 work4 ,illustration ,,the ,,junk ,the jaw having been removed1 the junk was then taken off and brought on deck to be cut up and tried out4 ,the junk was very rich in spermaceti--used by the manufacturers of cosmetics and spermaceti candles4 ,while the whale lay alongside1 the neighbouring waters were infested with a multitude of voracious sharks1 which1 if the cutting in were not done without delay tore the blubber to shreds4 ,during cutting in the men on the stage made periodical onslaughts on these robbers with their spades1 taking a characteristically seamanlike satisfaction in seeing the wounded sharks instantly set upon and devoured by their fellows4 ,illustration ,,cutting ,,in ,the captain with the first and second mate1 usually was on the stage1 taking an active part in cutting in4 ,the windlass crew were forward1 heaving on the tackle which was suspended from the cap of the lower mainmast4 ,as they hove the blanket rose higher and higher1 the cutters plied their spades1 and the whale rolled over and over4 ,illustration ,,the ,,blanket ,,piece ,,coming ,,aboard ,when the tackle was 8block and block10 the third mate or one of the boatsteerers1 with his 8boarding knife10 made a hole for the second tackle4 ,a heavy blubber hook1 or the eye in the long strop of the block in the foreground was pushed through and secured on the outside by a heavy wooden pin or toggle4 ,the second tackle was hove taut to take up the weight and the upper piece sliced off4 ,illustration ,,lowering ,,into ,,the ,,hold ,as each piece was cut off1 it was lowered down the main hatch into the blubber room and there cut into 8horse pieces10 three or four feet long and six or eight inches wide4 ,illustration ,,mincing ,the horse pieces were tossed back on deck1 where they were placed on a long plank set on tubs and 8minced0 into 8books0 or 8bible pieces0 with large two-handled knives4 ,the term 8books0 arose from the fact that the blubber was not cut quite through1 and a minced piece bore a rough resemblance to the leaves of a book4 ,illustration ,,trying ,,out ,day and night the try works were kept going1 until all the blubber had been rendered4 ,dense black smoke by day1 and illuminated sails and rigging at night disclosed to passing ships the proximity of a whaler4 ,merchant sailors claimed they could smell a 8spouter0 over the horizon4 ,the furnace contained two large iron kettles similar to that in the foreground of the sketch4 ,beneath each of these was a separate fire grate1 and under all--a shallow pan of water as safeguard4 ,the minced blubber was tried out in these kettles1 and when the book pieces had given up their oil they were used as fuel4 ,enough of this 8crackling0 was kept to start the fires for the next whale4 ,as the oil filled the kettles1 it was bailed off into a copper cooling tank--then to casks on deck where it cooled thoroughly for a day or two before being stowed away in the hold4 ,illustration ,,bailing ,,the ,,case ,if the whale was small1 the case was hoisted on deck where it was laid open and the liquid spermaceti saved with scoops and dippers1--but if it was too heavy for this it was secured to the side of the ship1 nose end down4 ,a hole was cut into the reservoir and a 8case bucket0 rigged from the mainyard and manipulated by four men1--one to handle the bucket1 two on the guy lines to force it down by means of the pole1 and the fourth to hoist and lower4 ,this oil often amounted to as much as thirty barrels of liquid spermaceti1 which had only to be headed up without further treatment4 ,to this day there has been found no equal to this oil for the lubricating of watches and fine machinery4 ,illustration ,,cleaning ,,ship ,by the time the oil was tried out and the stripped carcass cast adrift to make a royal feast for sharks and seabirds1 the ship was a slithery mass of oil1 gurry1 and blood1--to which was added the effects of clouds of smut and black smoke from the try works4 ,all hands turned to clean ship4 ,ashes from the fires were sprinkled on the deck and bulwarks1 and brooms and scrubbers were plied until she gleamed again1--except aloft1 where the sails hung black and an affront to the eyes of clippermen4 ,when the kettles had been scrubbed inside until they shone like silver punchbowls1 the men turned their attention to themselves and their clothes4 ,to be clean again6 ,how good it felt3--ship1 gear1 and man4 ,but how often was it no sooner achieved than a yell from the masthead announced 8,she blows6 ,she blows60 and all the weary business had to be gone through with again4 ,illustration ,,main ,,hatch ,,surgery ,some ,english and ,scottish whalers carried surgeons1 but it was not the custom in ,yankee ships4 ,whatever casualties befell his men1 the captain attended to as best he could4 ,heroic tales are related of bone settings and amputations without anesthetics aboard whaleships that pay high tribute to the fortitude of that vanished race of hardy seamen4 ,illustration ,,boat ,,surgery ,while the captain repaired his men--8,chips0 repaired his boats4 ,ships' carpenters received their training as boat builders1 and were prepared1 not only to mend them1 but had 8knocked down0 parts stowed below for the construction of new ones4 ,whaleboats were very lightly built and subjected to extremely rough handling4 ,seldom did a whaleship start a voyage with anything but new craft on her davits4 ,illustration ,,ashore ,,for ,,water ,as the casks were filled with oil1 the fresh water supply diminished1 so shore parties were sent off with empty casks to be filled and towed back to the ship4 ,illustration ,,having ,,it ,,out ,fighting aboard ship was not tolerated by the captain1 and grudges were carefully nursed until some shore duty afforded the belligerents an opportunity to settle their affair on the beach4 ,illustration ,,recruiting ,,on ,,the ,,beach ,disillusioned by hard work1 indifferent food1 and miserable conditions of living in general1 men were constantly deserting the whaleships1 especially in the ,south ,seas--where the islands presented a seemingly idyllic existence to the hard driven sailor man4 ,whaling captains did their best to repair these losses by recruiting among the beachcombers and deserters from other ships1 but the inducements held out were no different to those with which they were only too well acquainted1 and met with little success1 except in cases where idleness and monotony gave way to a desire to get home again4 ,many of these runaways1 however1 were so steeped in the soft living in the islands that they deserted again at the first opportunity4 ,illustration ,a 8,,gam0 ,the tedium of a protracted whale hunt and association with the same companions for months on end was relieved when two ships met at sea4 ,if they hailed from the same port so much the better4 ,the sails were laid aback1 and the captains1 mates1 and crews exchanged visits4 ,old friends met1 and letters passed--along with newspapers and home gossip4 ,work ceased--the cook threw a few more raisins in the plum duff--and a general holiday was declared4 ,a gam might last a day or a week1 and if whales appeared there was friendly competition between the boats of one ship and the other1 the oil taken during this period of 8mating0 being shared equally4 ,illustration ,,song ,,and ,,dance ,with a ,negro or two in the crew1 the foc's'le could always be assured of entertainment in the dog watches or during a gam4 ,illustration ,,bumboats ,when ships touched at ports in the ,cape ,verde ,islands1 the ,azores1 or other such rendezvous they were surrounded by peddlers of fresh fruit and vegetables1 a very welcome variant after months of salt junk and hardtack4 ,illustration ,,arctic ,,whaling ,compared to the dramatic action of ,sperm whaling1 the taking of ,right whales was a tame business1 but the chase of ,bowhead or ,arctic whales took men among icebergs and floes where their work was complicated by discomfort and the danger of ships being crushed or wrecked4 ,many individual whalers have been thus lost1 and in #ahga a fleet of thirty-four was crushed and abandoned in the ,arctic ice4 ,illustration ,,whalebone ,whalebone1 which once brought a higher price than the oil of the bone whales1 has little or no commercial value now4 ,the sketch shows the upper part of the head of a ,bowhead whale1 with the whalebone attached4 ,in larger specimens the slabs of 8bone0 reached twelve feet or more in length4 ,illustration ,,cleaning ,,whalebone ,the 8slabs0 were cut from the jaw1 and after being scraped and washed were tied in bundles4 ,illustration ,,dead ,,man',s ,,chest ,when a man died or deserted1 unless the captain chose to take his effects back to his family1 they were auctioned off to the highest bidder4 ,as often as not the chest was worth more than the contents4 ,illustration ,,homeward ,,bound ,instead of sailing for home when the ship was full1 many whalers discharged their oil at the ,hawaiian ,islands or ,san ,francisco and set out for more4 ,this oil was put aboard large cargo ships capable of carrying the catch of several whalers1 and taken round the ,horn to ,new ,york1 ,boston1 or the whaleships' home port4 ,but at last the 8spouter0 was filled up and ready for the long passage home1 the captain served grog1 and all hands were hailed aft to 8splice the main brace40 ,illustration 8,,scrimshaw0 ,with a four or five months' passage home before him1 the whaleman occupied himself by carving and fashioning all manner of articles out of bone and whales' teeth2--scrimshaw work4 ,he had usually some particular person in mind as he scraped and sawed1 filed and drilled1 often with tools made from nails or odd bits of metal4--,model ships or boats1 knives1 forks1 combs1 ladles1 yarn winders1 bodkins1 and a thousand other nick-nacks were turned out4 ,the favourite article however was the 8jagging wheel10--a contrivance for decorating pie crust and pastry1 and many were the variations on the handles of these jaggers4 ,the visitor inspecting the fine collection of these what ,herman ,melville calls 8,skrimshandered0 articles1 in the ,nantucket and ,new ,bedford ,whaling ,museums1 cannot help being struck with the exquisite workmanship of most of the specimens and the high degree of artistry attained in the decoration of them4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the whaleman and his trim little ships have gone on the long passage1 but if in nothing else1 he has left in this a delightful and worthy record behind him4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,end paper depicting whaling ,transcriber's ,notes ,perceived typographical errors have been silently corrected4 ,archaic and unusual spelling has been retained as in the original4