306 WHALE-FISHEllY. 



having contained water, resembles, in some degree, 

 though vastly more pungent, the gas evolved by 

 " bilge-water," or the stagnant water which rests 

 among the timbers of a very tight ship. The gas 

 discharged from oily casks, is usually stronger and 

 more abundant, in proportion as the water from 

 which it is disengaged, has been a longer time in 

 the casks. A considerable quantity of it is gener- 

 ated, in the space of three or four months. This 

 gas blackens metals, even gold, restores some me- 

 tallic oxides, is disagreeable in respiration, and af- 

 fects the eyes of the persons employed in the hold, 

 where it is most abundant, so as to occasion ophthal- 

 mic inflamm.ation, and frequently temporary blind- 

 ness. 



While the line-managers, together with the 

 " skeeman *," the cooper, and perhaps a few o- 

 thers, arc employed in breaking out the hold, the 

 rest of the crew on the deck arrange all the 

 variety of apparatus used for the preparation of 

 the blubber, before it is put into the casks. Of 

 this apparatus, the most considerable part is the 

 •' speck-trough," with its appendages. It consists 

 of a kind of oblong box or chest, about twelve feet 

 in length. If feet in breadth, and 1^ feet in depth. 

 The speck-ti'ough is fixed upon the deck, as nearly 



* The officer who has the direction of operations conduct- 

 ed in the hold. 



