222 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



as a carpenter or blacksmith. Three-boat vessels usually have about twenty-one men, and two- 

 boaters about sixteen. A fifth mate is usually shipped on steam whalers to head the starboard 

 bow-boat. He is shipped as " tif'th mate aud boat-header," but does not receive as profitable a 

 lay as the other mates, although he ranks as an officer. He may sometimes be requited to stand 

 watch, more especially it' another officer is sick. The steam whalers usually carry a cabin steward 

 and a cabin boy. A whaling vessel does not always leave Xew Bedford with her full complement 

 ol men, since she may obtain the balance of her crew at the "Western Islands, where she almost 

 always stops for supplies on her way lo the Pacific. 



Tim captain. The captain has of course absolute command of the ship, and is responsible for 

 her well-doing and safe return to port. When the wide nature of his functions are taken into 

 consideration, it is not surprising that he should be a man above the average ability, and pecu- 

 liarly adapted to his profession; for he has sometimes to serve in the capacity of physician, 

 surgeon, lawyer, navigator, peace-maker, and paterfamilias* ; besides, he must have good execu- 

 tive ability. The captain's is also an office of both dignity and responsibility, aud if he acquits 

 himself in it zealously and circumspectly, he may, in the course of time, be enabled to retire to 

 private life with all of the honors of his profession. 



Formerly the captain always participated in the capture of whales, but at present, especially 

 on large vessels, he remains on board when the boats are down. It was the custom, aud I believe 

 it is now practiced on some ships, for the master to lower during the first part of the voyage. The 

 captains of the steam barks in the Arctic regions seldom if ever engage in actual capture. There 

 seems to be a diversity of opinion as to the. captain's place at such times, but it is generally con- 

 ceded that when the boats are down he should remain on his vessel, as the boat-crews have more 

 confidence in him as a ship-keeper than they would in a subordinate who takes his place in his 

 absence. The master can, of course, take upon himself more responsibility in managing the ship 

 and in directing the movements of the boats.t 



The mates. There areas many iiiaUs on a whaling vessel as Ihere are boats for active duty, or, 

 to use a technical expression, " on the cranes." The mates are the executive officers of the vessel, 

 as is well known, and also the officers in charge of the boats when engaged in the capture, and in 

 this capacity they are knowji as "boat-headers." They are, of course, subordinate to the captain 

 and act under his orders; but when down for whales they oftentimes exercise their own discre- 

 tion and carry out their own plans, subject, however, to the directions ol the master signaled from 

 the ship. 



The mates kill the whales, cut oft' the blubber, superintend the " boarding," and have direct 

 charge of boiling out the oil and of stowing it away. 



The boat-stetrers. The boat-steerer has several names. His legitimate title is perhaps har- 

 pooner; but his comrades, and others intimately connected with the fishery, seldom call him by 

 that name. If shipped to enter immediately upon the duties of his office, his name is recorded on 



' Tin- cu[>t;iiu is known to his own crew, behind his back, as the "old 111:111" ; but to the crew of another vessel as 

 r;i|it:iin or skipper. A man si ] , in", on om< vessel recognizes his commander as his "old man"; but when he ships on 

 another vessel, his pi i becomes tin; "old man" and his former commander the captain. 



tThe rrovim -ctou -n capi : lower with their boats, but usually only on rare occasions, as when they 



strike a large school n|' whale-. Is fast to a vicious whale. If a I'rovincctowti captain lowers In- 



takes charge di'h is own boat, and the ihird mate strikes the whale ; should (he captain decide not to lower, the third 

 male heads the captain's lioat, and cither the ship-keeper, steward, or on.' of the foremast hands, usually the former, if 



competent, strikes the whale ; but on three I I vessels the mate usually lowers his boat first and ' takes the lead of 



the whaling." 



If the captains from New - . .ink il, policy io lower for whales, (hey have tin- vessel in charge of a compe- 



tent person, usually the cooper the ol'iici Iieiu ; 'known as ' ship- keeper " who lakes en I in- charge for the time being, 

 assisted In- about six men, when all Ih 1 -hip.'' 



