PKOCESS OF MAKIXG-OFF. 305 



Before the process of making-off can, however, 

 be commenced, several preparatory measures are ne- 

 cessary. The sliip must be moored to a convenient 

 piece of ice, or placed in an open situation, and the 

 sails so reduced as to require no further attention 

 in the event of bad weather occurring. The hold 

 of the ship must be cleared of its superstructure of 

 casks, until the " ground-tier," or lowest stratum 

 of casks, is exposed ; and the ballast-water must be 

 " started," or pumped out of all the casks that are 

 removed upon deck, as well as out of those in the 

 ground-tier, which are first prepared for the reception 

 of the blubber. In " breaking out the hold," it is 

 not necessary to lay open more of the ground-tier at 

 a time, than three or four casks extend in length. 



The water which is discharged from the casks in 

 the hold, provided they have been before in use, gives 

 out a great quantity of a strong disagreeable vapour, 

 consisting probably of sulphuretted and phosphuret- 

 ted hydrogen, with a mixture of other gaseous fluids, 

 produced by the decomposition of the oleaginous, 

 and other animal substances, left in the casks after 

 former voyages. This decomposition seems to be 

 encouraged, if not wholly produced, by the action 

 of the water on the animal matter ; because the 

 same casks, if bunged close, when empty, give out 

 but a small quantity of gas, and that of inferior 

 pungency. The gas proceeding from oily casks, 



VOL. II. T' 



