DESCRIPTION OF A WHALE SHIP'S CREW. 199 



SECT. II. 



Proceedings onboard of a Greenland Ship, from 

 putting to Sea to her Arrival on the Coast of 

 Spitzbergen, 



When a ship is fiilly equipped, with at least the 

 proportion of men, provisions, boats and stores, re- 

 quired by law for her tonnage, together with va- 

 rious other apparatus and appendages which expe- 

 rience has found to be useful or indispensable * ; 

 when the crew have been mustered f by the proper 

 officer of the customs, and paid a month's wages in 

 advance ; and when the requisites of law with re- 

 gard to bonds, certificates, oaths, &c. have been fid- 

 filled, and the ship cleared out at the custom-- 

 house, — the first opportunity is embraced for putting 

 to sea. This is generally accomplished in the course 

 of the month of March, or at latest before the 10th 

 of April. 



The crew of a whale-ship usually consists of 40 

 to 50 men, comprising several classes of oflScers, such 

 as harpooners, boat-stecrers, line-managers, cai'pen- 



* For a schedule of the extra stores, see Appendix No. III. 



t For the manner of mustering the crew of whale ships, 

 with some account of the afiidavits^ certificates, ike. required by 

 law, see Appendix, Np. IV. 



