THE WHALE FISHERY. 225 



The foremast hands, besides performing all kinds of work incident to the life of a common 

 seaman, stand watches aloft and below, heave at the windlass when cutting in a whale, assist in 

 stowing away the blubber, in preparing it for the try-pots, stowing it down, and scrub decks after 

 the fare has been boiled out. 



THE MANNER OF SHIPPING A CREW. The crews at New Bedford are generally furnished by 

 a class of merchants known as "outfitters," assisted by boarding-house keepers. The outfitters 

 keep stores containing different kinds of merchandise, usually ready-made clothing, men's furnish- 

 ing goods, boots, shoes, hats, and the cheaper grades of dry goods, and the latter keep the common 

 sailors' boarding-house. Both of these classes are known locally as "sharks." When the agent 

 of a ship wants a crew he notifies the outfitters, who draw upon the "shipping masters" in New 

 York or Boston, or the boarding-house keepers in New Bedford, for the number of men required. 

 The expenses of men coming from a distance are paid as far as New Bedford; the outfitter meets 

 them at the depot and conducts them to a boarding-house. If the men go on the voyage, the 

 shipping-master receives $16 per capita, which amount, as well as the cost of their outfits, is 

 charged to the men individually, and at the end of the voyage deducted from their profits; but 

 upon their arrival in New Bedford, if the men refuse to go on the vessel, the shipping-master loses 

 the fares to New Bedford, as well as his bonus, and the outfitter may be the loser on account of 

 the men's board bill. The men are therefore placed under the closest surveillance, but they some- 

 times depart clandestinely with a portion of their outfit at the eleventh hour. Au outfitter's 

 business is attended with great risk. His profits, however, must be large, to cover deficiencies, 

 for all of the men engaged in this business seem to prosper. Some of them also have the patron- 

 age of the citizens of the community, keeping, as they do, a general stock of goods. When the 

 ship is about to sail, the outfitter, having every confidence in his men, furnishes each with a small 

 wooden chest, or "donkey," of clothing, a straw bed, and other necessary articles ; but he never 

 permits the men to acquire a title of possession until they go aboard the ship ; nor does he pay 

 the boarding-house keepers the amounts due them until he is satisfied that the men are on board. 

 The "outfit" of a whaleman consists of money, board bills, and clothing advanced by the outfitter; 

 and the stock and trade of the latter consist of the profits he makes on the supplies, which profits 

 are large, the goods being almost invariably charged above the regular prices. The agents may 

 select a captain and mate ; but oftentimes it is difficult to find competent officers, and the outfitters, 

 taking advantage of this situation of affairs, furnish both officers and men, the profits being 

 derived mainly from the officers. If a four-boater is fitting out, and the outfitter is granted the 

 privilege of furnishing the captain or first mate, time-honored custom gives him the right to ship 

 four additional men, either able-bodied seamen or green hands, and to supply the five with outfits. 

 If he furnishes a second mate, he is entitled to outfit three men ; if a third mate, two men ; if a- 

 fourth mate, boat-steerer, cook, or steward, one man each. The "outfit" of a foremast hand 

 varies from $75 to $125; of a boat-steerer, from $100 to $200; and of a mate, from $100 to $800, 

 depending altogether upon the desires or actual necessities of the men, or what they think may- 

 be their necessities in the future. The "outfit" of each man is charged to his account with the 

 vessel, and deducted from his profit at the end of the voyage ; but the outfitters having expended 

 both labor and cash in obtaining a crew, or part of a crew, and furnishing them with the necessary 

 supplies acts of kindness which are duly appreciated, under the circumstances, by both the 

 agents and owners are not compelled to wait until the ship receives its equivalent from the men, 

 but settlements are usually made from thirty days to six months after the departure of the vessel. 

 The outfitters therefore look to the agents for their pay, and the agents, in behalf of the owners, 

 run the risk of getting their money from the men at th; expiration of the voyage. Some of the 

 SEO. v, VOL. ii 15 



