32 6 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



untenable. In winter some of the boats are stored at Capelo, and some are taken to the harbour at 



Porto Pirn, where they carry on whaling when opportunity affords. 



The motor tow-boat 



The uses of the motor tow-boat in Azores whaling have been summarized in a historical context 

 on p. 301 and some are mentioned in more specific terms in the foregoing account of the whaleboats; 

 they will be referred to again when whale hunting is discussed. At this point it is convenient to 

 interpolate a short description of the motor-boats and their equipment. 



Nowadays there are motor tow-boats at all whaleboat stations, in the proportion of one motor-boat 

 to two, or sometimes three, whaleboats (Table 4, p. 306). 



The motor-boats are all made locally in sheds or shelters at the principal whaling station of each 

 company. A typical launch is 40 ft. long and 8 ft. in the beam. It is petrol-driven and is both fast and 

 powerful. With no whaleboats in tow, but racing, say, to assist some boat in difficulties, it can attain 

 a speed of 18 knots with ease. It can make satisfactory headway when towing several dead whales: 

 the Fayal motor tow-boat Cetaceo (Table 8) can tow no less than eight whales the 15 miles between 

 Capelo whaleboat station and the factory at Porto Pirn at rather more than 2 knots. 



Table 8. Whaling fleet sailing from Fayal in 1949 



The crew usually comprises an engineman, who is in charge, and a boatman. Unlike the whale- 

 boats, the motor-boats are not hauled ashore, and since several of the stations are on hard, exposed 

 coasts, the motor-boats have to lie at open anchorages which sudden storms can make untenable. 

 Consequently the engineman, who is often an aged and veteran whaleman, always sleeps aboard his 

 craft, so that in emergency he can clear the anchorage and make for the nearest harbour. The engine- 

 man's quarters (comprising a bunk and little else) are right forward, and abaft these is the engine 

 compartment which also accommodates the radio-telephone apparatus in those boats in which it is 

 fitted. The cockpit aft has stowage for two drums of petrol, a boat -keg of water, and two spare tubs of 

 whaleline for those whaleboats which may signal that they require more line. There are also wire strops 

 and one or two light chains as towing-straps for the dead whales. On deck the mast is permanently 

 stepped, and is rigged with suitable tackle for a boatswain's chair, so that from time to time, when 

 approaching the reported position of a blow, or when in the midst of a hunt for a scattered and 

 ' gallied ' school (p. 328), the boatman may be hoisted to the masthead as a look-out. A sail is not bent, 

 but is carried in case of engine breakdown. Certain items of whaleboat gear are lashed ready to hand 

 upon the deck. These include a harpoon and lance, each mounted and fitted with a sheath. The 

 harpoon provides for a sudden rising, or some unusual event, which might allow the motor-boat to 



