THE WHALE. 41 



Mode of cutting up the carcase. 



cut in the fins and tail, and ropes being fastened 

 into these, he is towed to the ship, where he 

 is fastened along the larboard side, floating with 

 his back on the water. 



In order to take, out the blubber and whale- 

 bone, several men now get upon the animal with 

 iron calkers or spurs, to prevent their slipping, 

 and separate the tail, which is hoisted on deck. 

 They then cut out square pieces of blubber, 

 weighing two or three thousand pounds each, 

 which by means of the capstan, are also hoisted 

 up. These are cut into smaller pieces, which are 

 thrown into the hold, and left for three or four 

 days to drain. When all the blubber is cut from 

 the belly of the fish, it is turned on one side, by 

 means of a piece of blubber left in the middle, 

 called the cant, or turning piece. They then 

 cut out this side in large pieces as before, and 

 also the whalebone, with the gums, which are 

 presented entire, and hoisted on deck, where the 

 blades are cut and separated, and left till the 

 men have time to scrape and clean them. The 

 whale is next turned with its back upwards, and 

 the blubber cut out from the back and crown- 

 tone: they conclude the whole by cutting the 

 blubber from the other side. Before, however, 

 the remainder of the body i$ let to float away, 

 they cut out the two large upper jaw-bones, 

 which are hoisted on deck, cleansed, and fas- 

 tened to the shrouds, and tubs are placed under 



VOL. v. NO. 31. r 



