220 WHALE-FISHERY. 



readiness for the reception of the blubber. The 

 cavity thus made, together with all the space be- 

 tween decks which can conveniently be appro- 

 priated to the same purpose, receives the name of 

 the Jiens-gut. Now, when the flens-gut is filled 

 with blubber, or when, no fish having been seen, a 

 favourable opportunity of leisure is presented, the 

 operation of making off* is generally commenced. 

 This consists of freeing the fat from all extraneous 

 substances, especially the muscular parts, and the 

 skin; then cutting it into small pieces, and putting 

 it into casks through the bunghole. Before the 

 process of making off can, however, be commenced, 

 several preparatory measures are necessary. The 

 ship must be moored to a convenient piece of ice, 

 or placed in an open situation, and the sails so re- 

 duced as to require no further attention in the event 

 of bad weather occurring. The hold of the ship 

 must be cleared of its superstructure of casks, until 

 the " ground tier," or lowest stratum of casks, is 

 exposed; and the ballast water must be " started," 

 or pumped out of all the casks that are removed 

 upon deck, as well as out of those in the ground 

 tier, which are first prepared for the reception of 

 the blubber. In " breaking out the hold," it is 



* The expression " making off," seems to be derived from 

 the word afmaaken of the Dutch, signifying to finish, ad- 

 just, or complete, referring to the nature of the operation, 

 as a concluding, finishing, or adjusting process. 



