PROCESS OF MAKIXG-OFF. ■309 



steerers, who, armed with " choppiiig-knives," (PL 

 20. fig. 2.) are arranged in a line by the side of 

 the chopping-blocks, with the speck-trough before 

 them. Thus prepared, they divide tlie blubber, 

 as it is placed on their blocks, into oblong pie- 

 ces, not exceeding four inches in diameter, and 

 push it into the speck-trough intended for its recep- 

 tion. And, finally, the blubber falls under the di- 

 rection of the line-managers stationed in the hold, 

 who receive it into tubs, through the medium of the 

 lull, and pass it, without any instrument but their 

 hands, into the casks through their bung-holes. 

 AVhen the line-manager brings his tub beneath the 

 lull, he makes use of the words " let lob," on which 

 the boy who holds the nippers, permits the blub- 

 ber to escape, until he is warned by the words 

 " nip the lull," or " nip," to prevent any more from 

 descending. When a cask is nearly filled, the 

 packing is completed by the use of a " pricker" 

 (PI. 18. fig. 11, 12.); one piece after another being 

 thrust in by this instrument, until it can contain 

 no more. It is then securely bunged up. 



An excellent apparatus for cutting blubber, has 

 been recently introduced, which promises in a few 

 years to supersede the use of the speck-trough and 

 its cumbrous appendages. It consists of a square 

 tube of wood, 5 or 6 feet in length, and about 16 

 or 18 inches square. An iron frame containing 

 four cutting knives, placed parallel to one ano- 



