THE LAST PHASE OF WHALING 265 



This harpoon gun rendered the capture of the 

 smaller and more active species of whale a com- 

 mercial possibility, so that what they lacked in 

 weight of oil as individuals, they made up in 

 quantity. Some of these Finners and Rorquals 

 could be captured fairly near to the land, so it 

 became customary to build small, but seaworthy 

 steamers, whose sole function was to shoot the 

 whale, and then tow it ashore to a factory, where 

 all the subsequent operations were carried out. 



About the year 1880 the Norwegians built 

 steamers of iron, of about thirty-two registered tons, 

 and twenty-five to thirty-five nominal horse power 

 for this purpose. About thirty feet in length, with 

 a beam of twelve to thirteen feet, and a draught of 

 eight to nine feet, these steamers were rigged as 

 fore and aft schooners. Below deck there was 

 accommodation only for engine, cabins, and stowage 

 for warps, etc., the whales being towed ashore. 



The crew consisted of nine men, viz., the captain, 

 three engineers, steward and three sailors; the 

 speed was nine knots. 



These vessels were subsequently much improved 

 (p. 264). 



Longitudinal section, deck-plan and below- 

 deck plan of a modern type of whaling steamer : 



i. LONGITUDINAL SECTION: 



i. Store-room. 2. Ballast tank. 3. Crew's quarters. 

 4. Store-room. 5. Hatchway. 6. Space for harpoon 

 lines. 7. Fresh - water tank. 8. Reserve bunker. 

 Q. Coal Bunker. 10. Boiler. n. Galley. 12. Chart- 

 room. 13. Chain locker. 14. Engine-room. 15. Cabin. 



