FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [76] 



LIGHTS. 



Try-wokks Lanterns. 



Bua-LIGHT. 



An open-work receptacle made of lioop-irou, formerly suspended 

 between the try-works pipes, filled with scrap, and used as a 

 lantern, when boiling out at night. Superseded by a glass 

 lantern. New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1882. 57717. Gift of 

 Jonathan Bourne. 



CuTTiNG-iN Whale at NiaHT. 



Bua-LIGHT. 



Open-work receptacle for " scrap " made of pieces of hoop-iron ; 

 handle, broken oar served with rope-yarn. Length, 11 feet 

 8 inches. Kew Bedford, Massachusetts, 1882. 55802. Gift of 

 Jonathan Bourne. Made on a whaling vessel, undoubtedly by 

 the blacksmith. An apparatus which may be projected over 

 the side of a vessel, and lashed to the main-rail, while cutting- 

 in a whale at night, and used as a lantern ; the bowl-shaped 

 receptacle at the end being filled with scrap and ignited. It 

 may also be used when boiling out the oil for removing the 

 scrap. 



ROPES USED BY WHALEMEN. 



On THE Vessel. 

 Pluke-rope. 



The largest rope employed by whalemen. Formerly used for fasten- 

 ing the whale to the vessel, but has been almost wholly sui^er- 

 seded by a large chain (fluke-chain). The whale having been 

 killed, it is towed to the vessel ; the fluke-rope is passed around 

 that portion of the animal known as the small, the junction of 

 the caudal fin (flukes) and body, and made fast to the vessel. 

 Manila hemp; circumference, 8 inches; three strands. New 

 Bedford, Massachusetts, 1882. 5G390. New Bedford Cordage 

 Company. 



Cutting-falls. 



A kind of rope technically known as the cutting-falls. Full length 

 should be 38 or 40 fathoms. Used in connecting the lower and 

 upi)er blocks, forming a purchase, commonly known as the 

 "cutting-tackle" or the " blubber- tackle," by means of which 

 the blubber is unwound in spiral strix)S from the whale, hoisted 

 in, and lowered into the blubber-room. Manila hemp; four 

 strands ; circumference, 5J inches. New Bedford, Massachu- 

 setts, 1882. 5G391. New Bedford Cordage Company. 



