Early Days on Nantucket 61 



inference drawn from a statement of the average 

 income of the whalers is sure to be misleading 

 in a consideration of the influence of the fishery 

 upon its followers. The important fact is that they 

 never calculated average incomes. From captain 

 to cabin boy every member of every crew had his 

 mind constantly fixed on the uncommon voyage 

 the "greasy" voyage which the skilful master 

 and the "lucky" ship made every year. If the 

 present voyage proved dry, no matter; the next 

 would be greasy enough to make up for the present 

 loss. 



Nantucket people were not gamblers, for in spite 

 of a lack of "meeting houses" that was shocking to 

 Puritan ideas, they were deeply religious in their 

 way; but some ships took more whales than others, 

 and the thought of being one of the crew of a 

 "greasy ship" one that was filled with oil quickly 

 was fascinating. A man might, as some men did, 

 make a year's wages in two months, and he would 

 get his pay in a lump. Owners and crews were 

 alike in this respect. All whalers eagerly "took 

 chances"; they were under the sway of the gam- 

 bler's instinct. 



