i2 4 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



south in more open water, lest we should get beset. 

 We spoke several ships, which, like ourselves, were not 

 successful. 



I will here give a description of the term brooming. 

 When two vessels meet, and the masters are conversing 

 with each other from the crow's nest, the men from the 

 deck signal in the following manner to know how many 

 fish each ship has got : One waves a besom or birch 

 broom three times, then holds it upright a moment, then 

 makes a stroke downwards for each whale they have 

 captured, and then gives a final flourish. The other replies 

 in the same way. 



Formerly many whales' jawbones were brought for 

 farmers, who used them for gate posts, and they may 

 still be seen in many parts in good preservation. Of 

 late years they do not pay for the care and trouble of 

 bringing them home. The price used to be 305. per pair. 

 Sometimes when a ship got full they would hang a whale's 

 tail across the stern that the constant dropping of the 

 oil from it would break the heavy seas when running before 

 a westerly gale. The use of oil on the troubled 

 waters appears to have been an old custom amongst the 

 whalers. 



The mirage during the latter part of July and August 

 was very remarkable. On one occasion we sighted a ship 

 which was thirty miles distant. It was distinctly visible 

 with the naked eye from the mast head, and appeared 

 in its natural position, also inverted in the air with the 

 masts touching. It was an interesting and singular sight. 

 This phenomenon I have seen but twice during seventeen 

 years. 



Another time I saw an iceberg at a distance of forty-five 

 miles, changing into many peculiar forms ; this is a frequent 

 occurrence. I have also seen the east and west land both 

 at one time, between Holsteinberg and Cape Dyer, 



