CUTTING-IN OF A WHALE. 37 



the ship by a chain round the bitts, they 

 proceeded to reeve the huge blocks that are 

 always made fast for the purpose to the fore 

 and main mast head, and to fasten the cutting- 

 in tackle. The captain and two mates then 

 went over the sides on a well secured stage, 

 and having each a breast-rope to steady him 

 and lean upon. The cooper having passed 

 them the long-handled spades, which he was all 

 the time grinding and whetting, they fell lustily 

 to work to chop off the blubber. 



First came one of the huge lips, which, 

 after they had nearly severed close to the crea- 

 ture's eye, was hooked into by what they call 

 a " blubber hook," stripped off, and hoisted on 

 board by the windlass. It was very compact 

 and dense, and covered with barnacles. 



Next came one of the fore-fins ; after that 

 the other lip, and then the upper jaw, along 

 witli all that peculiar substance called wlmle- 

 bone, through which the animal strains his 



food. It is all fringed with coarse hair that 



i * 



detains the little shrimps and small fry on 



which the creature feeds. The bones, or 



