WHALING 263 



The officers and crew usually number about "fifty persons, 

 sufficient to man six whaleboats and to leave men on board to 

 work the vessel. 



The boats are narrow, and are pointed at both ends. Their 

 length is about twenty-six feet. They are propelled by five oars, 

 or by sail. When rowing the steersman uses a long sweep oar, 

 and when sailing a rudder, so arranged as to be easily 

 unshipped and hung on the side of the boat. Scotch whaleboats 

 are built of larch, while the American are made of cedar. 

 Another difference is that the latter are centre-board boats, 

 while the former have fixed keels. 



On the whaling grounds the boats hang ready in davits, three 

 on a side, with all their whaling gear in place, and ready to 

 be lowered at a moment's notice. A man is always on the look- 

 out in the barrel, and when a whale is sighted the captain takes 

 his place there and directs the movements of the boats from the 

 ship by signals made with sails and other signs. He is also in 

 connection with the engine-room, and controls the ship from 

 that lofty perch. 



A whale is usually sighted by the column of spray which it 

 throws up in breathing, and which often rises twenty feet in 

 the air, accompanied by a puffing sound. A whale usually 

 spouts or breathes five or six times when it comes to the surface 

 for that purpose, and so remains up for several minutes. It 

 then goes down to feed, and remains under the water for fifteen 

 or twenty minutes, during that time travelling perhaps at most 

 a mile. If possible, advantage is taken of the wind to approach 

 the whale, to avoid the noise made in rowing. For that purpose 

 ordinary metal row-locks are not used, their place being taken 

 by stout pins, to which the oar is attached by a ' grummet ' or 

 loop of rope. Both ear and eye of the whale are very small, but 

 in the water they are very acute, and any strange noise instantly 

 arouses suspicion. The eye is so placed that the animal can 



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