PROCESS OF MAKING-OFF. 311 



laborious. Fifty men actively employed, can pre- 

 pare and pack about three tons of blubber in an 

 hour ; though more frequently they are contented 

 with making-ofF little more than one-half of that 

 quantity *. When a ship, which makes a successful 

 fishing, is deficient in casks, the remaining vacan- 

 cies adapted for the reception of the cargo, are filled 

 with " blubber in bulk ;" that is, the blubber, in 

 large pieces as it is taken off the whales, is laid skin 

 downward, upon the highest tier of casks, and over 

 this, stratum after stratum, until the vacancies are 

 filled. A little salt is usually scattered over the sur- 

 face of each stratum of blubber, which assists in pre- 

 serving the animal fibre, and in preventing the dis- 

 charge of the oil. Blubber in bulk, notwithstand- 

 ing every precaution, however, generally loses much 

 of its oil. A quick passage homeward, with cool 

 weather and smooth sea, are favourable for its pre- 

 servation ; but under the influence of opposite cir- 

 cumstances, it becomes greatly reduced. 



* The operation of making-off, was always, in the eai'ly ages 

 of the fishery, perfoniied on shore ; and even so recently as the 

 middle of last century, it was customary for ships to proceed into 

 a harbour, and there remain so long as this process was going 

 on. 



