APPENDIX 311 



be compelled to take any class whether good or bad to make up his compli- 

 ment giving at the same time better lays and a large advance. I am satisfied 

 that there are no vessels afloat as a general rule that have better provisions 

 and in greater abundance than whalers. 



Beside the salt provisions and small stores, these vessels touch at some 

 port at least every six months and lay in large supplies of fresh meat, vege- 

 tables and fruits. On one occasion I knew a master to buy some sixty barrels 

 of sweet potatoes, paying a high price for them although told they were too 

 old to keep. His reply was that there were no others to be had (which was 

 a fact) and if he took them on board the men would be satisfied even if he 

 had to throw them into the sea in two days. It will be perceived from the 

 foregoing that there has been considerable improvement in the building of 

 vessels and the care for the comforts of the men and I wish sincerely my re- 

 port could cease here, I should be only too glad if over the picture which I 

 shall be now compelled to sketch, I could draw a curtain. I would be glad 

 for the sake and name and reputation of our countrymen engaged in whaling 

 but I having imposed upon myself this (which I conceive to be not a task 

 but a sacred duty) I will not shrink from doing justice to the mariner, after 

 having bestowed that praise which was due to the owner and Master. 



In order to make myself thoroughly understood, it will be necessary to 

 explain that generally speaking when a vessel is being fitted out for a whaling 

 voyage to the Pacific Ocean from the U. States, a shipping master is applied 

 to, who if he has not on hand a sufficient number of men immediately sends 

 his runner through the interior of Massachusetts, N. Hampshire, Vermont, 

 N. York and even as far as Ohio to pick up what are termed green hands. 

 As these Shipping Masters make large profits upon each and every man whom 

 they procure, they use every means in their power to excite the fancy and 

 stimulate the ambition of those whom chance may throw in their way. They 

 return to the port with ten or fifteen fine able bodied young men who are 

 shipped by the proper authority and are then told they can amuse themselves 

 at their boarding house until the day of sailing — and that the shipping master 

 has orders to supply them with clothing adapted to and necessary for the 

 voyage they are about to undertake. 



The time of sailing arrives. All hands are huddled on board — their chests 

 into which they have had no chance of looking are put into the fore-castle 

 when the vessel is about getting under way. They have already signed a 

 receipt for it. The order is given to make sail and off they speed on a voyage 

 of four years. 



Each sailor is charged in the Owner's books with an average outfit of 

 seventy (70$) dollars. But this sum is not paid the Shipping Master until 

 the vessel has been six months at sea. By many Owners interest is charged on 

 this sum for outfit, from the day of sailing until the return of the vessel. 



When at sea the sailor opens his chest for the first time, when it is dis- 

 covered alas too late that he has received including the value of the chest 

 and all in it, property to the amount of twenty to twenty five dollars. The 

 result is that in the beginning of the voyage the men are not only dissatisfied 

 but they are compelled upon the first appearance of cold or rugged weather 

 to seek warm clothing from the Slop Chest which in many instances is placed 

 on board by the owners as a profitable speculation, they paying the Master 

 a small Commission for his trouble. 



The lay or share of a greenhand is from the one-one-hundred and eightl- 



