BUILDINGS IN SPITZBERGEN. 177 



up, and the casks then rolled into the water, and in 

 rafts of 30 together, were conveyed to the ship. 



The whalebone was separated from the gum or 

 substance in which it is embedded, rubbed clean, 

 packed in bundles of 60 laminae or blades each, 

 and taken to the ship in the longboat. Thus pre- 

 pared, the cargo was conveyed home, either when 

 a sufficiency was procured, or the close of the sea-> 

 son put an end to the fishing occupations. 



The whale-fishers had different other buildings on 

 shore besides those made use of in boiling the 

 blubber. Those of the English, in one harbour, 

 consisted of a stone hut or tent, covered with wood, 

 and fitted up with cabins, &c. for lodging the blub- 

 ber men in, and a large cooperage, with a lodging- 

 room above it, for the use of the coopers when em- 

 ployed preparing the casks. In Bell Sound, the 

 English had a wooden house covered with Flemish 

 tiles, originally built by the Flemings, 80 feet in 

 length, and 50 in breadth, besides other smaller 

 tents. And in addition to similar structures, the 

 Dutch are said to have built warehouses, dwelling- 

 houses, and forts. 



While some of the people belonging to the whale 

 ships were engaged in boiling the blubber, the rest 

 of the crew, it is probable, were occasionally employ- 

 ed in the capture of other whales. 



Each nation which resorted to Spitzbergen, ha- 

 ving a different fishing station, completely occupied 



VOL. II. i\i 



