52 The Operation of Flinching. 



a stout wire rope, called the " blubber guy/' Having 

 four large siugle blocks stropped to it, through which 

 are rove the fore and main spek tackles (five-inch 

 rope) . The former is usually worked by the steam 

 winch, and the latter by a hand winch near the 

 main-mast. These tackles are used for hoisting on 

 board the large layers of blubber, some between 

 one and two tons in weight, as they are cut off. 



From the main-mast head is a heavy purchase 

 called the " kent" 1 or " cant " tackle, which is used 

 to turn the fish over as it is being flinched. It con- 

 sists of a treble and a double block, having a seven- 

 inch fall. Everything being in readiness, the crew 

 are turned up, and having been primed with a glass 

 of grog all round, commence the operation of flinch- 

 ing. Two boats, called " mollie boats," attend upon 

 those engaged in cutting up, and are kept alongside 

 the fish by a couple of hands in each boat, who are 

 named " mollie boys," the lines having been care- 

 fully covered over with boards to prevent injury. 

 The captain, from the port main rigging, superin- 

 tends the whole process ; the mate in the gangway 

 acting under his orders. The remaining seven 

 harpooneers, under the guidance of the speksioneer, 

 are on the whale, and with their blubber spades and 

 knives separate the blubber from the carcase in long 



1 Kent, derived from the Dutch, signifying to "cant" or 

 •• turn." 



