222 WHALE-FISHERY. 



While the line-managers, together with the 

 u skeeman,"* the cooper, and perhaps a few others, 

 are employed in breaking out the hold, the rest of 

 the crew on the deck arrange all the variety of ap- 

 paratus used for the preparation of the blubber, be- 

 fore it is put into the casks. Of this apparatus, the 

 most considerable part is the u speck-trough," with 

 its appendages. It consists of a kind of oblong 

 box or chest, about twelve feet in length, 1| feet 

 in breadth, and 1| feet in depth. The speck-trough 

 is fixed upon the deck, as nearly as possible over 

 the place where the casks are to be filled in the 

 hold. A square hole, made in its bottom, is placed 

 either over the nearest hatch-way to the scene of 

 operation, or upon a corresponding hole cut in the 

 deck. 



The speck-trough is then secured, and its lid 

 turned backward into a horizontal position; in 

 which position it is supported on one side by its 

 hinges, and on the other by screw props or pillars; 

 or it is altogether rested upon several little stools. 

 The surface of the lid, which thus placed, forms a 

 level table, is then covered with blocks of whales' 

 tail, from end to end. This substance, from its 

 sinewy and elastic nature, makes excellent " chop- 

 ping blocks," and preserves the i( chopping knives" 

 from injury, when used for dividing the blubber 



* The officer who has the direction of operations con- 

 ducting in the hold. 



