A WHALER'S DECKS. 43 



with the exception of two men who had come in 

 the vessel from Sag Harbor, the first on board. 



The forecastle was a large, roomy place, dis- 

 playing the usual two tiers of berths on each side, 

 and a locker at the bow, where could be stowed 

 pots, pans, spoons, and other table utensils. The 

 floor was encumbered with cleats, used by those 

 who had last occupied the place, to fasten their 

 c.hests. There was a disagreeable smell of train 

 oil, and other sea abominations, pervading all- 

 but to smells of this kind my olfactories had long 

 been accustomed, and they were therefore of no 

 jonsequence to me. 



After securing my berth, and lashing my chest 

 in its place, I proceeded on deck to make a more 

 minute examination of the vessel which was to 

 be my home, in all probability, for some years. 

 The decks of a whaleship are fitted up in a 

 manner greatly different from those of a mer- 

 chant vessel. Amidships, where the merchant- 

 man stows his longboat and spare spars, are the 

 try -works a frame built up of brick, with two, 

 and sometimes three, large iron pots placed in the 

 middle, beneath which is the furnace or fireplace. 

 Stout iron knees, bolted to the deck, keep this 

 mass of brick and mortar in its place. Over all 

 is a large wooden cover to keep out the rain. 



The deck is sheathed fore and aft with thin 

 pine lumber, to save the main planks from injury 

 which nvist otherwise be done them, by the cut- 

 ting and hacking of blubber, and the rolling of 



