260 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



agreement to meet the exigency, a flag is hoisted at the peak of the captain's ship [upon which 

 they are gamming], which familiar sign, especially on sperm-whale ground, is readily understood, 

 and when the boats are lowered for the chase, the visiting captain takes charge of the mate's 

 boat of the ship he is on board, and the executive officer visiting heads the captain's boat." 



When two boats belonging to different ships which are not mated approach the same whale 

 the officer who desires to enter into a copartnership with the other sets a waif in his boat. This 

 signal is readily understood, and if answered by the officer of the other boat it signifies that the 

 terms of agreement are ratified, and the whale if captured shall be divided equally between the 

 vessels. 



Two vessels belonging to different nations also sometimes mate. The American and English 

 vessels cruising on the same ground at times, perceiving that it would be to their interest to 

 jointly capture a whale, enter into friendly relations and divide the proceeds. 



In dismissing this subject 1 should perhaps say that usually the same spirit of acquisition, 

 and the same competition and sharp dealing that characterizes men on land, is also characteristic 

 of whalemen afloat. He who can get a whale without exceeding those bounds which hedge us 

 in all branches of life's industries, usually accomplishes his ends with but little compunction of 

 conscience as to the means; otherwise, under ordinary circumstances, he would at times fare 

 badly during a cruise. 



The swiftest boats, or those lowered under the most favorable circumstances, do not always 

 plant the first iron or kill the greatest number of whales. It may be that a boat's crew consists 

 of an expert officer and harpooner, but the oarsmen, or the majority of them, may be green. Under 

 these conditions, more especially if they must rely upon the oars as a motive power, the boat may 

 be behind the others in reaching a school ; but from the experience of the boat-steerer and officer, 

 they may strike and kill more whales than when the crew is composed entirely of veteran whale- 

 men, who may so manage their boat as to be the first to attack the school; yet their harpooner 

 may either be gallied or miss his chances, and probably not strike as many whales as the slow 

 boat. As a rule, however, the fastest boats kill the most whales. The boats from one ship may 

 attack a lone whale, which, peaking its flukes, may reappear on the surface closer to one boat 

 than the other ; or they may strike a pod of whales, and the several boats may attack as many 

 whales, and the results will very materially depend upon the actions of the cetaceans and the skill 

 and good fortune of the harpooners. 



Having overtaken or intercepted a herd of whales, the manner of "going on to them," which 

 signifies the act of approaching and harpooning them, is so varied as to preclude a system of rules. 

 The elements of success, however, in performing this feat are introduced in the stereotyped rule of 

 the whalemen, " Never gaily your whale." Attention to the practice of the most skillful whale- 

 men, joined with his own experience, must be the guides of the officer who directs the movements 

 of his boat. Much depends upon circumstances, the kind of whale attacked, and many other con- 

 siderations, which, arising on the spur of the moment, must be taken in hand and carried out by 

 the officer as opportunities are offered. The training and courage of the crew is also a question of 

 no little importance ; for, with some green hands, the first impulse, when the boat-steerer is about 

 to dart the iron, is to jump from the boat to the water. Some whalemen prefer to sail over a 

 right whale, striking ifc about midships, and throwing the toggle-iron when they are " wood and 

 blackskin," that is, when the boat and whale are in contact, or nearly so, at which moment the 

 cetacean immediately " settles," with a marvelous rapidity, thus affording an opportunity for the 

 boat to sail over without injury to itself or crew. SOUK; whalemen also approach the right whale 

 'quartering," on the starboard side, to give the boat-steerer a right-handed dart; this latter is 



