fisheries of the united states. [72j 



Bailing the Case. 

 Case bucket. 



Oak staves, bound with three iron hoops; bottom, one piece of 

 wood, conical. Eope bail with leather ears. Length, 24^ 

 inches ; depth, 16 inches ; diameter of top (inside), 9 J inches; 

 diameter of bottom (inside), 6^ inches. New Bedford, Massachu- 

 setts, 1882. 55801. U. S. Fish Commission. Before the intro- 

 duction of the improved windlass on whale-ships, it was impos- 

 sible to hoist the head of a large sperm-whale on deck ; the 

 head was dissected while in the water and hoisted by sections, 

 and the case was hauled up to the gangway vertically with its 

 base uppermost. The case-bucket was attached to a whip- 

 tackle, and, by means of a pole, pushed or "set" into the im- 

 mense reservoir of oil and fat which comiirise the spermaceti, 

 and the contents were emptied into casks and tubs on deck. 



Belts employed to support the Men. 



Monkey-belt. 



A wide canvas belt and a rope-tail. Canvas doubled, with a 

 rope crinkle in each end, through which one end of the rope is 

 passed and spliced to the standing part, leaving a loop large 

 enough to allow the belt to be properly adjusted about the waist 

 of a man. New. Length, 28 feet. New Bedford, Massachusetts, 

 1883. 57716. U. S. Fish Commission. A kind of belt worn 

 by the man who goes overboard on the whale when cutting-in. 

 The rope-tail is manipulated from the vessel by another man 

 who steadies the one on the whale while engaged in adjusting 

 the blubber-hooks, cutting off the head, &c. 



Stage-lines. 



Canvas belt and two rope-tails. Canvas doubled and stitched 

 along the center. Two grommets, one in each end, through 

 which the rope-tails (If inch rope) are rove and spliced. Ends 

 of ropes whipped. Length, 18 feet. New Bedford Massa- 

 chusetts, 1882. 57713-4. Gift of Jonathan Bourne. Made fast 

 to the main rail of the vessel and used to prevent the officers 

 falling overboard when cutting in the whale. 



Keeving Chains through Blubber. 



Whaleman's needle. 



Hardwood; conical; recessed at large end. Eope becket for bend- 

 ing on small line. Length, 26 inches. Provincetowu, Massa- 

 chusetts, 1882. 57707. Gift of Stephen Cook. Used by sperm 

 whalemen for reeving a small rope through a hole made in the 

 case or junix, by means of which the head-chain or junk-chain 

 . may be hauled through. 



