524 MODERN SEA FISHING 



to coil from right to left (when facing the box), or in other 

 words with the sun (see illustration, p. 523), close up to the 

 woodwork of the box until the line has covered the bottom. 

 The part in your hands will then lead from the centre of 

 the box, and to proceed, you bring this out to the side of the 

 box again and coil as before. As you fill the box you preserve 

 the formation of the spokes of a wheel from right to left 

 (i.e. with the sun) with the part you bring to the side from 

 time to time. 



When the box is full you carry the line down the centre of 

 the boat to the place prepared for its reception in the stern 

 sheets, where you proceed as before, splicing on a line as re- 

 quired, until the full complement of lines are coiled, when you 

 carry the end down the centre of the boat through the score 

 and make fast to the foregore of the gun harpoon. 



The foregore of the hand harpoon is about three fathoms in 

 length, one end of it being spliced to the harpoon which has 

 been previously served (wrapped) with spun yarn round the 

 socket to prevent it from chafing, and in the other end an eye 

 is spliced to form a loop through which the whale line is 

 passed. Thus, if there is only time to put in the gun harpoon, 

 the line can run freely through the loop ; but if the hand is 

 used as well, and holds, the loop runs down the line and jambs. 

 On the starboard side, well forward, is placed a wooden rest 

 called a ' mik,' on which rests the harpoon shaft usually a stout 

 piece of ash from five to six feet long, tapering towards the top 

 from the harpoon the barb of the harpoon being on the salvage 

 deck forward. 



To keep the points of the harpoons and lances sharp when 

 not in use, they are greased and wrapped round with old canvas 

 or flannel and placed in painted canvas covers made for the 

 purpose. On the starboard side there is a small locker or 

 receptacle, open towards the bow of the boat, to further protect 



