222 
MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
the chief mate, who stand no watch, but are up at any time of night, if occasion 
require, and throughout the day. The two watches are designated as the starboard 
and port, the second mate being officer of the starboard, and the third mate of the 
port watch. There being four boats, there are as many mates, or "boat -headers," 
one of which has charge, or, as it is termed, heads each boat, except when the 
captain chooses to go in his own boat, which is the starboard one ; at such time, 
the fourth mate acts as boat-steerer. The chief mate's is the port boat, the second 
mate's the waist boat, and the third mate's the bow boat. All the boats are sus- 
pended from tall, stout wooden davits, with two cranes under each for the keel to 
rest upon ; the last mentioned three usually hoist on the port side of the ship, and 
the captain's on the opposite quarter. Besides the boat- header, there is a boat- 
steerer and four men, who complete the crew. The boat-steerers are shipped as 
such ; but the men for each boat are selected from the hands, having due regard 
to their physical strength, activity, and intelligence, and the remainder of the 
the extent of my business.' 'You then are at 
liberty to agree with us, and I am authorized 
by Mr. Pitt to tell you, that you may make 
your own terms ! ' I told him it was too late ! 
'I made very moderate proposals to you, but 
could not obtain anything worth my notice. I 
went to France, and sent forward my proposals, 
which were doubly advantageous to us, com- 
pared with what I offered your government. 
They considered them a very short time, and 
on my arrival in Paris, were ready to act. I 
had separate interviews with all the Ministers 
of State necessary to the subject, who all agreed 
to, and granted my demands.' He still insisted 
that I was not bound to France, and I should 
make my own terms. But all in vain; the time 
had passed over ! Lord Litchfield also sent for 
me on the same subject, but was soon convinced 
that it was too late. The minority came to me 
for materials to attack Lord Hawkesbury, but I 
refused to supply them." 
It was at one of these interviews that Mr. 
Pitt, or his majesty George III, asked Mr. Eotch 
what equivalent would be given in return for all 
these favors now sought from his government. 
"I am going to give England and his majesty 
the services of our young men from my native 
place — the island of Nantucket." And fully was 
this assertion verified in subsequent years. Nan- 
tucket -men went to England, and her great su- 
premacy in whaling was carried forward by these 
promised whalers ; and for years she held sway 
through all difficulties in this branch of commerce 
in Europe. The island was well represented in 
London by more than five hundred shij)- masters, 
the last of whom (Win. Swain, Esq.) died in 1868, 
upwards of ninety -two years of age. 
Mr. Botch's son Benjamin was left in Dunkirk 
as a partner of his son-in-law, Samuel Bodman, 
who resided at Nantucket. Ships were soon aft- 
er fitted out from Nantucket, on distant whaling 
voyages, manned and officered by Nantucket-men, 
who, after filling their vessels, repaired to Dun- 
kirk, where their oil and whalebone found a 
ready market for France and Holland. The busi- 
ness was pursued with great energy by Mr. Botch 
and his associates. All their ships came from 
America with the necessary outfits for their voy- 
ages, as they could not be easily obtained in 
France. Many artisans immediately connected 
with the business left Nantucket with their fami- 
lies to take up their residence in Dunkirk. 
