66 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



produces near two thousand pounds. The 

 tongue and the fins are also saved ; so that 

 when the carcass is turned adrift, after being 

 properly stripped, very little oily matter falls 

 to the share of the birds, who make a ter- 

 rible clamour, however, in quarrelling for that 

 little. 



The "blubber-room" is a space under the 

 main hatch, between decks, capable of receiv- 

 ing the blubber of two or three whales ; into 

 this every piece is lowered as it comes from 

 the whale : these are called " blanket pieces/' 

 and some of them weigh one or two tons. 

 As they are piled one on another, the press- 

 ure of their own weight, with the motion of 

 the ship, which is never at rest, causes the 

 oil soon to exude, and, mixing with the blood, 

 more or less of which comes in with each piece, 

 the blubber-room soon presents an indescrib- 

 able mess. 



Into this odorous retreat it is the duty of 

 one man immediately to descend with a cut- 

 ting-spade, to commence cutting the " blanket 

 pieces into "horse pieces; " these are about a foot 



