WHALE FISHERY OF NEW ENGLAND 37 



this was called a "caulk," and often some kind of a joke was played 

 on the sleeper. In one case they tied a live pig to the slumberer's feet 

 and watched the fun from behind the try -works. 



Whalers would rarely cruise past the Azores without stopping at 

 Fayal, where they were most hospitably received by the American 

 Consul, who for centuries was one of the Dabney family. In fact, 

 the island is often referred to among whalemen as the "Isle de Dabney." 



"Gamming" or exchanging visits between two whalers at sea was 

 thoroughly enjoyed and gave a chance to the sailors to swap experiences, 

 and many a weird, sorrowful, or wonderful story must have been related. 

 An incident is recorded of a meeting between two brothers who had 

 lived in Nantucket, and who had not met for twenty-three years. 

 There is an old adage among whalers that when a year from home, on 

 "gamming" with a ship that has sailed subsequent to your own de- 

 parture, you have the privilege of begging; when two years out, of 

 stealing; and when three years away from home, of both stealing and 

 begging. 



A New London ship was once holding a reception on board for some 

 natives, and each of the crew was endeavoring in some way to amuse 

 the guests. One seaman took out his set of false teeth, thinking he 

 would provide entertainment; but instead the natives became so alarmed 

 that they tumbled over the side into their canoes and made their retreat 

 as quickly as possible. The crew was asked on shore for a return visit; 

 but an invitation to the exhibitor of the teeth was not forthcoming, 

 and he was obliged to remain alone on the ship, much to his disappoint- 

 ment. Captain Gardner of Nantucket stated that in thirty-seven 

 years he spent only four years and eight months at home, and Cap- 

 tain North, also of Nantucket, figured that he had sailed one million 

 one hundred and ninety-one thousand miles. 



Nothing could have equalled the joy of returning home after a long 

 voyage, and the anxiety to reach port was almost unbearable. Often 

 a vessel ran into bad winds and had to anchor for days a few miles 

 off shore, and there is one case known of a ship being blown to sea and 

 lost after having actually come within sight of New Bedford Harbour. 



Many a whaleman has laughed at this story. It was customary for 

 the first mate to keep the log book. One day he was intoxicated, so 

 the captain entered the day's events, noting that "the mate was drunk 

 all day." The next day the mate protested, but the captain said that 

 it was true and must remain on the records. The mate resumed his 

 charge of the diary, and got more than even with his superior officer 

 by recording on the following day that "the Captain was sober all day." 



WHALING IMPLEMENTS AND WHALEBOATS 



The earliest method of killing whales was by means of the bow and 

 arrow, and the first accounts of New England whaling refer to the har- 

 poons as being made of stone or bone. There are three kinds, however, 

 that have been popular among American whalemen: one had one barb 



