216 A HISTORY OF THE WHALE FISHERIES 



the beginning of June to the end of September, 

 during which time the usual catch is from eight 

 hundred to one thousand four hundred barrels of 

 sperm oil, though up to two thousand barrels have 

 been taken. 



From June to September Beale's ship fell in with 

 large numbers of whales on these Japan grounds, 

 seeing them every day for weeks. 



At this time the ships employed in the whaling 

 industry were vessels from three to four hundred tons 

 burthen, with a crew of twenty-eight to thirty-three 

 officers and men, including a surgeon. They started 

 from London at all times of the year fully provi- 

 sioned for three years. Each whaler carried six 

 whale boats, each about twenty-seven feet long by 

 four beam; sharp at both ends for rapid motion in 

 any direction. Near the stern was an upright 

 rounded piece of wood, the " loggerhead," at the bow 

 a groove exactly in the centre, through which the 

 harpoon line ran. Each boat was provided with two 

 harpoon lines of two hundred fathoms length, coiled 

 in tubs ready for use, three or four harpoons, two or 

 three lances, a keg with lantern, tinder-box, and 

 other small articles, two or three small flags, the 

 " whifts " to be inserted in the dead whale for ready 

 detection in case the whale was abandoned for chase 

 of a second, and one or two " drougues," quadri- 

 lateral pieces of board with a central handle by which 

 they are attached to the harpoon line to increase its 

 resistance when running out, and so to check the 

 speed of the whale in sounding or running. Each 



