288 HISTORY AND METHODS OF TI1E FISHERIES. 



the name "right-whale glue" often given this kind of oil consequently considerable labor and 

 strong lye is required to wash it off. Humpback oil has the same effect, and should be treated in 

 the same manner. 



Some whalemen contend that it is bad luck to wash off the blackskin which has accumulated 

 on the main-mast during the process of boarding the blubtfer, and indeed some of the old sperm 

 whalemen will not permit it to be removed until the season is over. They will tell you that the 

 presence of blackskin on the mast cannot possibly influence their catch of whales; that wh;ilcw 

 will be scarce or plentiful as the case may be, but they show that there is a discrepancy between 

 their words and their actions by declining to remove the substance until a full ship is reported, or 

 until the season is up. They contend that a mast patched with pieces of whale skin does not look 

 so bad after all ; on the contrary, their presence should be hailed as an emblem of industry and 

 activity, and overwhelming proof that all hands have been hard at work. This is one of the 

 whaleman's superstitions, to the influence of which he usually yields with becoming modesty and 

 gracefulness. 



7. THE HOMEVVARD PASSAGE AND ARRIVAL. 



MAKING THE HOME PASSAGE. Should the ship be in the Pacific or in the Indian Ocean, very 

 little, if anything, is done towards fitting the vessel for the home passage until " square away for 

 home," and then it generally occupies nearly all of the passage, usually about three months, to get 

 everything in ship-shape. The vessel now, it may be said, for the time being, loses her identity 

 as a whaling craft, and becomes a carrier, and the captain is anxious to go into port with a clean 

 and "smart- looking" vessel. The first thing to be attended to is the rigging, which is "set up" 

 wherever needed. The seizings are " squared" on the lower rigging; the rigging is "capped," 

 "rattled down" (which expression signifies that it is "rattled up"), and finally "tarred." By this 

 time, if the ship has "good luck," she may be in the Atlantic Ocean, probably well up to the 

 "line," and, having been thoroughly washed, the crew, alter cleaning the iron-work, get ready to 

 "paint ship," including the outside (bulwarks), inside, and spars. This is usually done while run- 

 ning through the northeast trades. The mast-heads are manned during this time, unless the ship 

 has her holds "chocked off," in which case it would not be necessary to keep the men on the look- 

 out. As the ship nears the Gulf Stream it was formerly customary to "overboard try-works." 

 When she strikes soundings all of the gear is taken out of the boats; the craft bundled up and 

 stowed down overhead, care being taken to keep the gear of each boat separate. The boat sails 

 are unbent, and, with the drags, short-warps, lantern-kegs, boat-knives, hatchets, compasses, 

 rowlocks, aud other smaller articles belonging to the boat are stowed away in a large cask and 

 marked "boat- gear." The cutting- pendants in the mean time have been taken from the mast-heads 

 The craft is bundled up with canvas around the points. The boat-masts, paddles, and rudders 

 are stowed on the afterhouse. The oars are usually left in the boats. The blubber-hooks, the 

 cutting-falls, the blubber-tubs. &c., are stowed in the fore-hold. 



A ship cruising in the Atlantic Ocean usually commences to fit up ship about a mouth before 

 starting for home, tarring, rattling, and capping the rigging, but she waits until making her pass- 

 age before she commences to paint. The spars, yards, and masts are painted while the sails are 

 set, the crew taking advantage of a good "spell of weather" for the purpose. It often happens, 

 however, as the whalemen express it, they "get caught," and are compelled to shorten sail before 

 the paint has dried, which, as can be readily imagined, produces a very bad state of affairs. 



