whalebone: its production and utilization. 5 



ered the entire length of the jaw. All that remains to be done is to 

 separate the mass into pieces of convenient size, containing from 3 to 

 6 slabs each. To do this the men work with spades and axes, divid- 

 ing the slabs by cutting through the gum and removing all the blubber 

 and meat and likewise much of the gum. 



While in the gum, the baleen is not liable to injury from dampness, 

 and may be stowed in the hold, where it remains until the crew have 

 time to clean it. "When the season is over and the ship is on the 

 l)assage to port, it is brought up on deck again and the slabs are 

 carefully separated one from the other by cutting through the gum 

 with an ax. This operation is performed by careful and experienced 

 men, for any mutilation or hacking of the material would seriously 

 affect its value. TMiile the slabs are being separated by some of the 

 men, others are busily engaged in removing the particles of gum with 

 a small hand scraper. The slabs are then carefully washed in salt 

 water in orcfer to remove all foreign substances, and are thoroughly 

 dried by exposure to the atmosphere. 



If a long sea voyage intervenes before a market is reached, the dry- 

 ing must be carefully attended to, otherwise the whalebone is liable 

 to become damaged. As much of the Arctic whalebone at the present 

 time is landed at San Francisco and is consequently but a short time 

 at sea, there is not this necessit}^ for its being so carefully dried. It 

 is discharged on arrival of the vessel in port and placed in stands out 

 of doors where it is thoroughly dried by the action of the sun and 

 wind. Occasionally the whalebone is bunched at sea, but as a rule 

 this is done in port after the slabs have been overhauled and exam- 

 ined. Each bundle contains about 22 full-length slabs and weighs 

 about 80 pounds. Before bunching the baleen is assorted into grades 

 and sizes. That measuring less than 6 feet in length is known as 

 " undersize," and is sold at reduced price. From the time of its re- 

 moval from the head of the whale to the completion of the manufac- 

 turing process great care must be taken to avoid cutting or dam- 

 aging the surface, the slightest nick reducing the value. 



The quantity of whalebone .obtained from the different species of 

 whales varies greatly. The bowhead produces far more than any 

 other, and the right Avhale comes next in this regard. Even whales 

 of the same species and of equal size and yield of oil may produce 

 widely different quantities. It is commonly supposed that the age of the 

 whale has much to do with the Aveight of the Avhalebone, the substance 

 continuing to gain in solidity after the animal attains maturity. As a 

 general average for the fleet the yield in the bowhead whale is from 15 

 to 20 pounds to the barrel of oil, a 100-barrel whale yielding from 

 1,500 to 2,000 pounds 'of baleen, while in the right whale the yield 

 is usually about 11 pounds to the barrel of oil. The extreme pro- 

 duction on record is 3,100 pounds, obtained from a bowhead whale by 

 the steamer Mary and Ht'loi in Bering Sea, October 20. 1883. 



