208 ZOOLOGY. 



stored to the Tuscan her harpoons and lines, found on 

 the dead whale. 



The dead Cachalot usually floats buoyantly, with its 

 side raised high above the surface of the sea ; but 

 some few examples display an unaccountable tendency 

 to sink after death, and can only be kept afloat by the 

 assistance of the boats or ship. They will occasionally 

 sink after they have been secured to the ship's side, 

 breaking by their weight " fluke-ropes " of great 

 strength : it has been found requisite to chop asunder 

 an iron chain, which held a large and sinking whale, 

 to save a ship from the destructive effects of so pon- 

 derous a body. 



When the dead Cachalot is made fast to the ship, 

 and floating parallel to her side, the next proceeding 

 of the whaler is to " cut in/ 5 or remove the blubber, 

 and other parts most valuable in commerce. For this 

 purpose, a plank or stage, corresponding to each ex- 

 tremity of the whale, is suspended over the side of the 

 vessel, and occupied by the principal officers, whose 

 duty it is to remove with judgment the more important 

 structures of the animal. The moveable portion of the 

 bulwark, on the same side of the ship, is taken away ; 

 the pulley-ropes, or " cutting-falls/' attached to the 

 mainmast head, are uncoiled ; and while the boat- 

 steerers take their station on the platform, the rest of 

 the crew man the windlass. 



The surface of lard between the eye and pectoral fin, 

 or " rising piece," is first cut through with the spade, 

 and detached sufficiently to allow a large hook to be 

 passed through a circular hole in its centre. To fix 

 this hook, and connect it to the pulleys, requires that 

 one of the crew should descend upon the whale ; but 

 no other part of the process demands a similar ex- 



