404 WHALE-riSHElir. 



fly off in the form of vapour ; Avhcrcas, tlic principal 

 part of tlic steam -wliich now escapes, is produced 

 from tlie water. Some persons make a practice of 

 adding a quantity of water, amounting, perhaps, to 

 half a ton, to tlie contents of each copper, with the 

 view of weakening or attenuating the viscid im- 

 purities contained in the blubber, and thus obtain- 

 ing a liner oil ; others consider the quantity of 

 ■watery fluid already in the blubber, as sufficient for 

 producing every needful effect. 



Each day, immediately after the copper is emp- 

 tied, and while it is yet hot, the men employed 

 in the manuficture of the oil having their feet 

 defended by strong leathern or w^ooden shoes, de- 

 scend into it, and scour it out with sand and wa- 

 ter, until they restore the natural surface of the cop- 

 per, wherever it is discoloured. This serves to pre- 

 serve the oil from becoming high coloured ■'', which 

 will always be the case, when proper cleanliness is 

 not observed. 



The starting-back being previously filled with 

 blubber, its contents are again transferred into the 

 copper, and the fire is applied as before. This is 



* The palest-coloured oil is most esteemed by buyers, and 

 is supposed to be the best ; simply, perhaps, because it seems 

 to have been manufactured with care, and appears to be free 

 from any admixture of brown or black oil, produced from the 

 fenk-back, or found in the hold of the ship. 



