198 WH ALE-FISHERY. 



management of the yards and sails, boom-courses 

 are strikingly useful, on account of the little atten- 

 tion they re([uire, when any alteration in the posi- 

 tion of the sails becomes necessary. And when the 

 ship's head-way is required to be suddenly stopped, 

 in a situation where she cannot be hiffed into the 

 tvhicl, boom-courses swinging simultaneously with 

 the top-sails, are backed without any annoyance from 

 tacks or sheets, and of course assist materially in 

 effecting the intention. Such is the advantage of 

 this description of sails, that on one occasion when 

 all the rest of my crew were engaged in the cap- 

 ture of a whale, with the assistance of only two 

 men, neither of them sailors. I repeatedly tacked 

 a ship of 3.50 tons burden under three courses, top- 

 sails and top-gallant-sails, together with jib and 

 mizen, in a strong breeze of wind. Gaff -sails, be- 

 tween the masts, in the place of stay-sails, are like- 

 wise deservedly in much repute. To the mizen 

 -and try-sail or gaff main-sail, that have been long 

 in use, I have added a gaff fore-sail of similar form, 

 besides which, my Father has also adapted gaff-top- 

 sails between each mast. These sails produce an 

 admirable effect when a ship is " on a wind," 

 which is the kind of sailing most required among 

 ice. 



