Harpoons, Lances, Guns, and Boats 235 



taken in order to bring a strain on the line when 

 a struck whale is sounding. The friction of the 

 line flying around this timber often sets it on fire, 

 and it is necessary to throw water over it. The 

 weight of a whale boat ready for the ship is from 

 500 to 550 pounds. One in the National Museum 

 with its load of weapons, lines, etc., weighs 1528 

 pounds. The boat is usually steered with a 

 19-foot oar, but a rudder is carried. The oars 

 range from 9 to 16 feet in length, and the shortest 

 is placed at the bow. The 28-foot boat formerly 

 sold as low as $90, but the prices are now far 

 above $100. 



The ordinary whale ship of what was called 

 the Golden Era of the nineteenth century car- 

 ried four boats on the davits, one aft on the 

 starboard side, called the "captain's" or the "star- 

 board" boat; one aft on the port side, called the 

 "larboard" boat; one on the port side abreast 

 the mainmast, called the "waist" boat; and one 

 forward on the port side, called the "bow" boat. 

 The first, second, and third mates had charge of 

 these boats on the port side in the order named. 

 The harpooner of the captain's boat took charge 



