824 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



had been reserved from the previous voyage. They burned with a 

 fierce and steady blaze, leaving but a trace of ash. I was then in- 

 formed by one of the harpooners that no other fuel was ever used for 

 boiling blubber at any time, there being always amply sufficient for 

 the purpose. 



We were now in the haunts of the sperm whale, or " cachalot," 

 a brilliant lookout being continually kept for any signs of their ap- 

 pearing. One officer and a foremast hand were continually on watch 

 during the day in the main crow's-nest, one harpooner and a seaman in 

 the fore one. A bounty of ten pounds of tobacco was offered to who- 

 ever should first report a whale, should it be secured; consequently 

 there were no sleepy eyes up there. 



At last, one beautiful day, the boats were lowered and manned, 

 and away went the greenies on their first practical lesson in the busi- 

 ness of the voyage. There were two greenies in each boat, they being 

 so arranged that whenever one of them " caught a crab," which of 

 course was about every other stroke, his failure made little difference 

 to the boat's progress. They learned very fast under the terrible im- 

 precations and storm of blows from the iron-fisted and iron-hearted 

 officers, so that before the day was out the skipper was satisfied of our 

 ability to deal with a " fish " should he be lucky enough to " raise " 

 one. I was, in virtue of my experience, placed at the after oar in the 

 mate's boat, where it was my duty to attend to the " main sheet " when 

 the sail was set, where also I had the benefit of the lightest oar except 

 the small one used by the harpooner in the bow. 



The very next day after our first exhaustive boat drill, a school 

 of " blackfish " was reported from aloft, and with great glee the 

 officers prepared for what they considered a rattling day's fun. 



The blackfish (Phoccena sp.) is a small toothed whale, not at all 

 unlike a miniature cachalot, except that its head is rounded at the 

 front, while its jaw is not long and straight, but bowed. It is as 

 frolicsome as the porpoise, gamboling about in schools of from twenty 

 to fifty or more, as if really delighted to be alive. Its average size 

 is from ten to twenty feet long and seven or eight feet in girth; weight, 

 from one to three tons. Blubber about three inches thick, while the 

 head is almost all oil, so that a good rich specimen will make between 

 one and two barrels of oil of medium quality. 



We lowered and left the ship, pulling right toward the school, the 

 noise they were making in their fun effectually preventing them from 

 hearing our approach. It is etiquette to allow the mate's boat first 

 place, unless his crew is so weak as to be unable to hold their own; 

 but as the mate always has first pick of the men this seldom happens. 

 So, as usual, we were first, and soon I heard the order given, " Stand 

 up, Louey, and let 'em have it! " Sure enough, here we were right 



