230 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
person in charge of the vessel takes his station at the main -topgallant cross-trees, 
where a sharp watch is kept, both on the whales and boats. When the whales are 
upon the surface of the water, a. flag is usually hoisted at the main -topgallant 
mast-head; and when they go down, the flag is lowered; and to indicate their 
bearing from the ship, the following signals are made with the sails: "Whales on 
the weather bow," weather clew of the fore -topsail or fore - topgallantsail is hauled 
up; "Whales on the lee bow," lee clews of the same sails are taken up; "Whales 
on the weather beam," weather clew of main -topsail or topgallantsail up, and gen- 
erally with a waif* pointed to windward; "Whales on the lee beam," lee clew of 
Mast-head Waif. 
the same sails up; "Whales ahead," jib down; "Whales between the boats," flags 
at the fore and main mast-heads; "Come on board," flag at the peak; "Boat 
stove," flag at the fore and mizzen mast-heads. In sperm-whaling during light 
weather, the crews sometimes go a long distance from the vessel, at least ten or 
twelve miles; but this is not the regular practice. In right -whaling, however, it 
is expected that the ship and boats will keep near enough together to communicate 
by signals, unless enveloped in fog, rain, or snow, which occurs in high latitudes, 
where this species of balcena are chiefly sought ; and the moment a bank of fog 
obscures the vessel, the rule is to "haul aback," if practicable, or in other words, 
to keep the ship as near the same position as possible where she was last seen by 
the people in the boats ; who, having previously taken the bearings, find their way 
back by the aid of the compass, and the sounding of horns, or the firing of guns 
from the vessel ; or, if the boats are caught out at night, lights are set, and some- 
times a fire is made on the "back arches" of the try -works, by which means the 
whole ship is illuminated, when every spar glistens in relief upon a dark, misty 
background, with the sails flapping against the masts as the ship rolls and tumbles 
over the sea, or the swelling canvas yields to the dank blasts that are sweeping 
by in fitful moaning sounds, as if to render the scene more ghastly. From the 
time a whale is discovered until the capture is made, and the animal cut in, the 
scene is one of laborious excitement. If the whale is first seen spouting, the man 
*The mast-head -waif is a light pole six or covered with canvas; it i3 sometimes called a 
eight feet long, with a hoop fastened at the end "yonder" hy English whalers. 
