44 WHALING AND FISHING. 



oil casks, incident to trying out and stowing 

 down a whale. A portion of the starboard side, 

 the waist, as it is technically called, is also thickly 

 sheathed, as it is here that the blubber is taken 

 in from the whale along side. The bulwark, or 

 rail, at this portion of the side is moveable, and 

 can be taken out entirely, which is done when 

 "cutting in." 



On the starboard side a whaleship carries but 

 one boat the cranes for which are hung upon 

 the quarter. As ours was a four boat ship, we 

 had the remaining three upon the larboard side, 

 occupying a space there from the quarter to the 

 forerigging. It is a matter of much difficulty, at 

 sea, while a vessel is under sail, to lower a stern 

 boat, for which reason whalemen never carry a 

 boat on stern-davits, as merchant vessels are 

 accustomed to do. 



Two spare boats, stowed overhead, between the 

 main and mizzen masts, and thus making a good 

 shelter on the quarter deck during rainy weather, 

 completed the fitting of the decks. 



Aloft our ship differed but little from most other 

 vessels of her size the little top-gallant-cross- 

 jrees, the stations for look-out men, being the only 

 peculiarity which would bespeak her business to 

 a sailor. 



The lower deck was divided off into : forecastle, 

 where the crew live; forehold, a place where all 

 spare rigging, hawsers, and cutting-in gear are 

 stowed, as also spare lumber for repairing boats, 



