THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY. 
253 
an occasional vessel would bring them news from home. Really, the only legiti- 
mate means of communication, in early times, was by the outward-bound and 
homeward-bound ships;* and as a natural result, a system of transmitting letters 
was faithfully carried out. Speaking and visiting between whale- ships was a uni- 
versal practice; and a custom of signaling and "gamming" was established, to pre- 
vent, as far as possible, any detriment to the voyage. A ship desiring to speak 
with another, out of ordinary signal distance, would haul up her mainsail ; and the 
vessel with the wind free would bear up and run down to the new-comer on the 
ground, who, being hauled aback, awaited the approach of the visitor. There is, 
usually, considerable formality observed in these casual communications, especially 
if between strangers. The captain of the ship making the signal to speak, hails 
first, and asks whatever questions he may desire ; after which, the master of the 
other vessel does likewise, and mutual invitations are exchanged to visit. If either 
accept, the rule is for the chief mate of the ship visited by a captain, to 
return, in the same boat, on a visit to his executive officer. If whales are raised 
during the time of gamming, the vessels generally "mate," in order that all 
shall have a motive in working together effectively ; and, if there has been no 
previous agreement to meet the exigency, a flag is hoisted at the peak of the 
the cruise, the supply of fresh water had be- 
come alarmingly short for the allotted time 
before returning to port. This was a source of 
regret, with both officers and men, as it was 
hoped they could fill the ship before the season 
terminated ; and the captain would not have 
listened for a moment to the proposition to put 
the crew on a short allowance, had it been sug- 
gested. He, however, ordered a drinking -cup 
made, so as to be easily secured to, or detached 
from, the royal -mast head. Having placed it 
in its exalted position, all hands were mustered, 
and given to understand that they would have 
their regular allowance of tea and coffee served 
night and morning; but when anyone (includ- 
ing himself) desired to quench his thirst during 
the day, he must go aloft, get the drinking- 
cup, bring it on deck, obtain and drink the 
water (without spilling a drop), then take it 
back and place it at the mast-head again. The 
narrator of this episode jocosely remarked that, 
"It was wonderful to observe what a 'per- 
suader* against too much drinking was the 
exercise of 'shinning' to the royal truck twice, 
for a pot of water." And, by this means, the 
supply held out; and before the end of the 
cruise, they improved the timely opportunity of 
filling every empty cask with oil, and trimmed 
their sails for the homeward passage. 
* Post Office Bay, upon the north - western 
side of Charles Island, took its name from the 
custom established by the whalers (before it 
was inhabited), of depositing letters in a box, 
placed upon a post for the jmrpose; "and 
homeward-bound ships," says Findlay, in his 
South Pacific Directory, "examined the directions, 
taking with them all which they might have the 
means of forwarding." A similar place of de- 
posit for letters was established on the island 
of Juan Fernandez. We have heard, too, that 
a letter-box was at one time posted on the 
island of New Zealand. 
