WHALE-FISHERY. 215 



tail is united, is called the rump, and the extremity 

 or anterior part of the head is drawn in an opposite 

 direction by means of the nose tackles. Hence, 

 the body of the fish is forcibly extended. The 

 right-side fin, being next the ship, is lashed upward 

 towards the gunnel. A band of blubber, two or 

 three feet in width, encircling a fish's body, and 

 lying between the fins and the head, being the 

 fat of the neck, or what corresponds to the neck in 

 other animals, is called the kent, because by means 

 of it the fish is turned over or Jcented. In the com- 

 mencement of this band of fat or kent is fixed the 

 lower extremity of a combination of powerful blocks, 

 called the kent purchase. Its upper extremity is 

 fixed round the head of the main mast, and its fall 

 or rope, is applied to the windlass, drawn tight, and 

 the upper surface of the fish rising several inches 

 above the water. The enormous weight of a whale 

 prevents the possibility of raising it more than one 

 fourth, or one fifth part out of the water, except, 

 indeed, when it has been some days dead, in which 

 case it swells in consequence of air generated by 

 putrefaction, until one third of its bulk, appears 

 above the surface; the fish then lying belly upwards, 

 extended and well secured, is ready for the opera- 

 tion of flensing. 



Process of Flensing. 



After the whale is properly secured along side of 

 the ship, the harpooners, having their feet armed 



