THE \VUALK KISI1 1'U Y. 231 



but generally the olliocrs and boal -steerers make the sails themselves. Mcaniimc the carpenter is 

 busily engaged in lifting I lie, boat- masts, anil the cooper makes or overhauls the line-tubs, boat- 

 buckets, lantern-kegs and other like utensils. 



The green hands are allowed a certain time to become familiar with their duties. Atthe expira- 

 tion of the given time those who have tailed to improve their opportunities lose their watch below 

 during the day until they learn more thoroughly. There is always plenty of work on an outward- 

 bound whaler, and it is of a varied character, and any one disposed to learn may soon become 

 master of the situation. 



PASTIMES. When uot at work the men amuse themselves during week days according to 

 their several dispositions, by patching and mending their clothes, playing cards or back-gammon, 

 spinning yarns, smoking, reading, and mannfactming various articles of utility and fancy. As 

 a rule the captains do not allow card playing ; but some of the crew usually provide themselves 

 with cards and manage to have games in the forecastle, the only available "stake" being tobacco. 

 The owners of the vessel usually furnish the men with illustrated papers, magazines, and books, 

 and many of these, like the playing cards, become so well worn and greasy from excessive mani- 

 pulation that scarcely a trace of legibility is left by which they may be identified. But the greatest 

 delight of the whaleman was on the Sabbath day, when in olden times it was his custom to over- 

 haul his chest of clothing and trim his ditty box.* This was called the "sailor's pleasure." All of the 

 " sea clothes" were taken out, unfolded, shaken, examined for holes or rents, carefully folded again 

 and put away in their accustomed places; the "home clothes," or " long togs," were also taken 

 out and viewed with a feeling of peculiar delight ; the photographs of friends and relations were 

 brought to light, and old letters were read again and again. Every Sunday was alike in this 

 respect. On Ihe Sabbath day also the whaling captains of the old school, after certain routine 

 work had been performed in the forenoon, distributed Bibles, tracts, or other religious publications, 

 among the men ; some of whom, in good weather, in the southern fishery, congregated about the 

 deck in little knots, and digested the contents of the books and papers, while others, not so dis- 

 posed, showed their outward and invisible sign by gentlemanly demeanor and polite conduct, in 

 letting those who wished to do so, read in comfort. 



One of the most fruitful sources of amusement to a whale-fisherman, and one which often so 

 engrosses his time and attention as to cause him to neglect his duties, is known as "scrimshawing.''t 

 Scrimshawing, which, by the way, is the more acceptable form of the term, is the art, if art it be, 

 of manufacturing useful and ornamental articles at sea; and its chief aim is to fight ofi' the dull 

 monotony, which, at times, environs the life of the whaleman. Many of the objects produced in 

 this manner, however, prove valuable to the makers as souvenirs, or trophies, of their exploits 

 and adventures, or useful to themselves and families in the economy of the domestic household; 

 and also possess a certain di gree of interest, as well as intrinsic; value, to curiosity-seekers, besides 

 forming interesting acquisitions to museums. One of its most prominent features is the develop 

 meiit of the ingenuity and artistic tastes of the whalemen : and some of them attain a high degree 

 of skill in the production of numerous articles of this kind. Some of these have an appreciable 



* A small wooden box for needles, buttons, llin ail, pieres of doth for patches, hits of wax. an old brass or steel 

 tliimblr. anil a pair of scissurs. In addition to tlt<-~e in c utensils and mall-rial, the ditty box contains 



tin- most varied enlleetion of pieei-s of old iron or wood, sln-lls, probably an old park nf raids, or may hi- a N'ew Testa- 

 ment, small stones or minerals, ton-inn nuts, and enrios obtained from the nalm-s of I lie islands in the Southern 



Pacific. 



t This word appears to be of doubtful orthography, hem;; vanm-sly written " skrimshoniug," " scrimshorning," 

 " skrimschoutinv!." and "skrimsuandor," and has, like many of the idioms that form I Ins very pith ami essence of the 

 whaleman's language, gained i-nnvm-y ai tin- leading whaling centers, though seldom heard in the interior of the 

 country. As to its etymology. I can only say that I lu\e liaeed its anteeedenls to the island of Nantncket, and 

 although I am unable to substantiate, my theory, I am of the opinion that it is a eorrnpt form of an Indian word. 



