4 The Story of the New England Whalers 



fashion that had already been established on 

 Massachusetts Bay. Boats fit to launch through 

 the surf were built by the community, and, with 

 the necessary implements, these boats were held 

 in readiness to go in pursuit of any whale that 

 might be seen offshore. To make sure that every 

 whale that came near the beach would be seen it 

 was necessary to keep some one constantly on 

 watch alongshore. To give such lookouts a wide 

 range of vision the settlers erected among the 

 dunes a number of tall spars, fitted with wooden 

 pins up which the lookouts could climb, with 

 perches or seats at the top. Further than that, 

 a well-thatched hut was built, here and there, 

 near the beach to serve as a shelter from heavy 

 storms; for the whales "struck in" along that 

 beach in winter from November to April. 



Naturally, the work of the lookout was irk- 

 some and distasteful even to settlers inured to 

 hardship. The perch on the spar was an uncom- 

 fortable seat in the best of weather, and a gale of 

 wind searched the hut, in spite of the fire that 

 was built, for every hut was open on the side 

 toward the sea. However energetic these settlers 



