XIII 

 THE MUTINEERS AND SLAVERS 



AFTER the time came when whaler cap- 

 tains went to the "crimps" for crews, 

 mutinies often occurred in the fishery. 

 That is to say, many crews became so discon- 

 tented for various reasons that they broke out 

 in open rebellion, refusing to do duty, deserting 

 the ship, etc. 



The causes of these mutinies are not far to seek. 

 Testimony that must be believed shows that the 

 officers were often brutal in their treatment of 

 the men, and were willing to increase the profits 

 of the ship by robbing and, sometimes, starving 

 them. Starving crews was certainly uncommon 

 in the whale fishery; but legalized robbery was, 

 as said, common even in Wayland's day. 



The ordinary mutiny was nothing more than 

 what is now called a strike. The men fled ashore 

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