Cheering Effect of the Capture. 55 



The tail of the whale is cut up into blocks, which 

 are used during the process of " making off," form- 

 ing excellent blocks, on which the blubber is chop- 

 ped up into small pieces, thereby preserving the 

 edge of their instruments. It is customary for the 

 boat-steerer of the first fast boat to have the choice 

 of blocks, after which selection each man marks his 

 own by cutting his initials upon it, or otherwise 

 distinguishing it. 



After the operation of flinching is concluded, the 

 upper deck, as may be imagined, is in a very filthy 

 state, and so slippery that unless great care and 

 caution are exercised whilst walking, a fall is in- 

 evitable. A little sawdust, however, sprinkled over 

 the worse parts, makes it a safer promenade. 



Our men were remarkably quick in flinching this 

 our first whale, the " kreng " sinking, amidst the 

 frantic cheers of all hands, exactly two hours after 

 the operation had commenced. 



The crews of these ships are always ready to 

 cheer on the slightest provocation. It is customary 

 to give three cheers, both when the fish is killed 

 and when the last of it is taken on board. This 

 capture already seems to have had a wonderful effect 

 upon every one on board ; all are now in high 

 spirits, predicting a successful cruise, and a return 

 to Dundee with a full ship. 



The men attribute their good fortune to-day to 

 the fact of their having last night burnt in effigy 



