246 THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN 



ing illuminate many secluded corners and unexplored nooks. 



When classified according to origin, the whaleman's debts 

 fell into two categories: seagoing debits and landlubber debits. 

 The first, including the slop-chest account, cash advances, in- 

 terest and insurance charges, and incidental items, originated 

 with the master at sea. The second, comprising advances to 

 outfitters, charges for a medicine-chest and for fitting and dis- 

 charging a vessel, and payments to third parties, followed the 

 activities of the agents in the home port. 



At once the most common and significant of seagoing debits 

 was the cumulative charge for articles bought on credit from 

 the slop-chest. This not-too-elegant term was the universal 

 American equivalent for the ship's store. For owing to the 

 long and uninterrupted periods spent at sea a whaling vessel 

 had to carry a stock of goods from which the hands might pur- 

 chase articles currently needed. 



Such an arrangement was rendered all the more imperative 

 by the lack of money and of foresight which prevented the 

 whalemen from equipping themselves adequately before sail- 

 ingj and also by the outfit which was sold to every foremast 

 hand before a voyage, for most of the articles included in these 

 outfits were of such inferior quality that it was necessary to re- 

 place them from the slop-chest long before a full cargo had 

 been secured. Add to these demands the further replacements 

 necessitated by accidents, losses, and the contingencies of whal- 

 ing voyages, and it becomes evident that the slop-chest played 

 a vital role in shipboard life. 



Sales on a credit basis rendered this role even more signifi- 

 cant. Since the men had to have certain supplies, and since 

 they possessed neither cash nor a ready way to get it, there was 

 no alternative to an extension of credit. But inasmuch as most 

 hands could not be trusted to repay their debts voluntarily, 

 provision was made for compulsory subtraction from the gross 

 lay at the end of the cruise. Such an arrangement would have 

 been workable and businesslike if made between equals. But 

 when carried out under the shipboard conditions of brutal dis- 

 cipline, unquestioning obedience, and frequent clashing of per- 

 sonalities, it presented ready opportunities for sharp practices 

 and vengeful distrust, 



