192" ZOOLOGY. 



labours within the tropics. In addition to the comple- 

 ment of casks, four iron tanks are usually fixed between 

 the decks, each tank being adapted to contain sixteen 

 barrels, or two tuns, of oil. 



The average number of the crew of a South-Seaman 

 is about thirty officers and men, comprising a master, 

 surgeon, mates, boat-steerers or harpooners, boat- 

 swain, carpenter, cooper, armourer, steward, &c. The 

 boat-steerers hold a rank between the mates and able 

 seamen. Their duty is to attend to the equipment of 

 their respective boats, and to steer the latter, or har- 

 poon the whale. 



With very few exceptions, the Captain and crew de- 

 pend entirely for their pay upon the profits of the 

 voyage, or are, as it is expressed, " upon the lay, 1 ' or 

 under compact to receive, as wages, a share of the 

 value of the cargo, when the latter is brought to its 

 market. The entire amount divided amongst the crew of 

 a South-Seaman, from the port of London, is estimated 

 at between one-third and one-fourth of the whole value 

 of the cargo ; the residue being carried to the expenses 

 of the voyage, and to the remuneration of the owners. 

 The highest lay, or that given to the commander, is from 

 one-eleventh to one-fifteenth, the lowest from one hun- 

 dred and tenth to one two hundredth ; the one hundred 

 and sixtieth being the more usual share of an able 

 seaman. 



Each ship, on sailing from England, is fully pro- 

 visioned for three years : all her supplies being of the 

 very best description; as upon their preservation 

 depends, in a material degree, the success of the voyage. 

 Both the owners and masters display a very laudable 

 attention to the health and comfort of the seamen they 

 employ ; while the effects of their liberal and judicious 

 arrangements are sufficiently evinced in the generally 



