AT SEA: ON THE WHALING GROUNDS 167 



sary to attach the valuable prize securely to the vessel before 

 any rest period could be allowed. This operation was by no 

 means an easy one, especially when carried out after dark, as 

 was often necessary. Two boats, one on each side of the 

 animal, began to row from behind towards the head. Each 

 boat held one end of a light line with a weight attached to 

 the middle, by means of which it was sought to pass the line 

 underneath the great body. Since the flukes, in particular, 

 extended under water for an uncertain distance, it required both 

 judgment and patience to bring about the end desired. Hav- 

 ing achieved it, however, the light line was replaced first by 

 a stout rope, then by a hawser, and finally by a heavy iron 

 chain. This last was secured about the whale's "small," or 

 narrow portion of the tail between the body and the expanding 

 flukes j and by means of this chain the body was then made fast 

 to the starboard side of the vessel, with the head toward the 

 stern. 



With the whale at length firmly secured in this position, 

 preparations were begun at once for the laborious and exacting 

 process of stripping off the blubber, known as "cutting-in." 

 Every effort was made to complete this task in the shortest 

 possible time. For not only did the ravages of sharks result 

 in an appreciable loss of blubber, but the weight and size of 

 such a ponderous mass of flesh alongside rendered it difficult 

 to handle the vessel in rough weather, in pursuing other game, 

 in keeping a definite course, and in any emergency. This was 

 especially true when, as sometimes happened, two or more car- 

 casses were alongside at the same time. 



The first step was to rig the "cutting-stage" in such a man- 

 ner that a narrow plank platform, with a railing on the in- 

 side, was provided just outside of and several feet above the 

 body of the whale. From this platform the captain and first 

 and second mates, armed with long-handled cutting-spades, 

 began to attack the carcass. The master and first mate usually 

 undertook the task of severing the head, containing the valu- 

 able oil and spermaceti of the "case" and "junk," from the re- 

 mainder of the body, while the second mate began the process 

 of "scarfing," or cutting the blubber crosswise into long strips 

 twelve to eighteen inches wide. These strips were then peeled 



