EQUIPMENT OF A WHALE BOAT. 233 



teiied to a pole, intended to be displayed as a 

 signal whenever a whale is harpooned ; a " tail- 

 knife," (PI. 20. fig. 4.) used for perforating the fins 

 or tail of a dead whale ; a " mik," or rest, (fig. 7.). 

 made of wood, for supporting the stock of the har- 

 poon when ready for instant service ; an " axe", 

 (fig. 16.) for cutting the lines when necessary ; a 

 " pigging" or small bucket, for bailing the boat, or 

 wetting the running lines, to prevent the bollard 

 from taking fire; a " snatch-block," (fig. 17.) ; " a 

 grapnel," (fig. 11.); two "boat-hooks ;" a " fid," a 

 wooden " mallet," and " snow-shovel ;" also a small 

 broom and a " swab," together with spare tholes, 

 grommets, &c. In addition to these, the two six- 

 oared or other swiftest boats, are likewise furnished 

 with an apparatus called a " winch," (PI. 19. fig. 2.), 

 for heaving the lines into the boat after the fish is 

 either killed or has made its escape ; and in some 

 ships they also carry a harpoon-gun, with appara- 

 tus for loading. The whole of the articles above 

 enumerated, are disposed in convenient places 

 throughout the boat. The axe is always placed 

 within the reach of the harpooner, who, in case 

 of an accident, can cut the line in an instant ; the 

 harpoon-gun is fixed by its swivel to the boat's 

 stem ; the lances are laid in the sides of the boat 

 upon the thwarts ; the hand-harpoon is placed up- 

 on the mxik or rest with its stock, and on the bow 

 ^f the boat with its point, and the foregangcr is 



