WHALE-FISHERY. S37 



kind of broad blunt chisel, to prevent the fenks from 

 adhering to the bottom or sides of the vessel. When 

 once the contents of the copper boil, the fire in the 

 furnace is immediately reduced, and shortly after- 

 wards altogether withdrawn. Some persons allow 

 the copper to boil an hour, others during two or 

 three hours. The former practice is supposed to 

 produce finer or paler oil, the latter a greater quan- 

 tity. Supposing the copper to be filled at four in 

 the morning, it is generally brought to boil by half 

 past five, and boiled off at half past six or seven. 

 It then stands to cool or subside, until about two 

 in the afternoon, when the bailing process com- 

 mences. A back or cooler having been prepared 

 for the reception of the oil, by putting into it a quan- 

 tity of water,* for the double purpose of preventing 

 the heat of the oil from warping or rending the 

 back, and for receiving any impurities which it may 

 happen to hold in suspension; a wooden spout, with 

 a large square box-like head, which head is filled 

 with brush- wood or broom, that it may act as a fil- 

 ter, is then placed along, from the a copper-head"f 

 to the cooler, so as to form a communication be- 

 tween the two. The oil in the copper being now 

 separated from the fenks, water, and other impuri- 



* Some persons dispense with the water, believing that it 

 promotes rancidity in the oil. 



t The platform built around the edge of the copper, is 

 called the copper-head. 



