PUOCESS OF FLENSINCr. 299 



descend upon the fish. Two boats, each of wliich 

 is under the guidance of one or two boys, attend 

 upon them, and serve to hold all their knives and 

 other apparatus. Thus provided, the harpooners» 

 directed by the spccksioneer, divide the fat into ob- 

 long pieces or '•' slips," by means of "blubber-spades," 

 (PI. 18. %. 7, 8, 9, 10.) and " blubber-knives," 

 (PI. 20. fig. 1.); then affixing a " speck-tackle" to 

 each slip, progressively flay it off, as it is drawn up- 

 ward. The speck-tackles, which are two or three 

 in number, are rendered effective by capsterns, 

 winches, or other mechanical powers. Each of 

 them consists of a simple combination of two single 

 blocks, one of wliich is securely fixed on a strong 

 rope, extended between the main-top and the fore- 

 top, called a guy ; and the other is attached by a 

 strap to the blubber of the whale. The Jlensers 

 commence with the belly and under jaw% being the 

 only parts then above water. The blubber, in pieces 

 of half a ton to a ton each, is received upon deck by 

 the boat-steerers and line-managers : the former with 

 " strand-knives," (PI. 20. fig. 3.) divide it into port- 

 able cubical, or oblong pieces, containing near a solid 

 foot of fat, while the latter, furnished with " pick- 

 haaks," (PI. 20. fig. 9.) pass it between decks, down 

 a hole in the main hatches. It is then received by two 

 men styled kings, who pack it in a receptacle 

 provided for it in the hold, or other suitable place^ 



