312 



APPENDIX. 



feet long, and is used in removing scraps 

 from the try-j^ots. For illustration, see 

 fig. 3, p. 239. 



Skimming -slicks. — A phrase used by whale- 

 men -when employed in saving any small 

 amount of fat from the entrails or from the 

 exterior of the carcass after the blubber has 

 been strij)ped off. 



Slumgullion. — The offal from the blubber of a 

 whale. 



Small. — The posterior portion of a whale, be- 

 tween the vent and caudal fin. 



Sounding. — Is the term signifying the descent 

 of the whale after being fastened to. 



Stem, or stem all. — Is the invariable order 

 given to the whaleboat's crew, when it be- 

 comes necessary to propel the boat stern 

 foremost. 



Stirring - pole. — A wooden jjole six or seven 

 feet long, used to stir the blubber in the 

 try -pots. See illustration, fig. 2, p. 239. 



Stopped. — To confine a rope, or ropes, usually 

 by a smaller line, as, ' ' Stop the line to the 

 'iron-pole'" (or harpoon stafi'), i. e., con- 

 fine the line to the pole by passing one or 

 more turns of twine, or rope-yarn, around 

 both line and pole, and confining the ends 

 by knotting them together. 



Suds. — The foam on the surface of the water 



caused bj' the violent actions of a whale in 

 the course of its cajjture, as, "In order to 

 get a good chance to kill the whale, you 

 must keep close to the suds." 



S'weeping. — The action of a whale when wield- 

 ing its flukes from side to side in an offen- 

 sive or defensive manner, causing a great 

 commotion on the water. 



Toggle. — A large wooden pin, about three feet 

 long, and six or eight inches in diameter, 

 with a swell or shoulder near the middle. 

 It has a hole near one end, through which 

 a rope is attached, which is termed the 

 toggle -lanyard. This lanyard is used in 

 handling or confining the toggle. See il- 

 lu.stration, p. 23-I. 



Turning flukes. — The last action of a whale 

 ujjon the surface of the water when making 

 its descent beneath, which is to elevate its 

 caudal fin in the air as the body assumes 

 nearly a perpendicular attitude. 



Trying out. — To extract the oil from the blub- 

 ber by boiling. 



White - horse. — An extremely tough and sin- 

 ewy substance resembling blubber, but des- 

 titute of oil, which lies between the upper 

 jaw and junk of a Sperm "Whale. 



White -■water. — The foam or sjiray caused by 

 the violent actions of a whale. 



