150 NOTES ON TASMANIAN WHALIN(i, 



cut up was taken at once to the blubber room to prevent 

 the loss of its Oil, its own weight causing it to ooze from 

 the tissues. 



The '' iiodtj." After the removal of the head the Body 

 was treated and the blubber removed as follows: — Hooks 

 were lowered from a yard and secured in the blubber. On 

 traction being made men with sharp spades cut long strips 

 from the body. These ' .Blanket pieces, ' a couple of feet 

 in breadth, when five to six feet long, were cut oflF and 

 hove into the blubber room, and there divided into much 

 smaller pieces. These small pieces were then taken to 

 the Mincer near the "Try Works" and then when the Oil 

 in the pot was heated, thrown in, and boiled down. When 

 boiled the oil was bailed out into "Coolers" on either side 

 of the Try Works, thence to the tanks, and from the 

 tanks to casks and stowed below. 



For the above description of "Trying-out" a Sperm 

 whale 1 again have to thank Captain A. B. Robinson. 



During this year the Australian and New Zealand 

 whaling grounds were populous with ships, particularly in 

 well known whaling localities. Every Captain logged any 

 whaler spoken to, giving his catch and time at sea, and 

 this information was jjublished on his return to port, and 

 so the public were given some idea of the fortunes of the 

 ships still at sea. 



The following entry in the "Othello " log for Saturday, 

 November 20th, 1869, gives some idea of the number of 

 ships in the neighbourhood of Norfolk Island: — "Light 

 "Easterly and variable winds — at 9.30, and we ran off shore 

 "to the West." The following named ships are either at 

 the Island or have been here very lately. I give the 

 report as furnished by Mr. Fred. Young of N.Z. 



B.k. Hunter, Captain Chase, 23 months; 1,650 bar- 

 rels of Sperm. 



B.k. The Ionia, Captain Norton, 30 months; 500 

 barrels of Sperm, 600 Black Oil. 



B.k. Highland Mary, Captain French, a long time; 

 15 barrels of Sperm. 



Abraham Bai'ker, 36 months; 2,900 barrels of Sperm. 



Corral, Captain Potter, 15 months; 500 barrels of 

 Sperm, 1,000 Black Oil. 



Northern Light, Captain Baker, 1,200 barrels of 

 Sperm, 450 Black Oil. 



