[69] fishekies of the united states. 339 



Hoisting in Throat. 



throat-chain toggle. 



Iron toggle and chain formerly used for hoisting in the throat of 

 the right or bowhead whale. Length of chain, 5 feet ; length 

 of toggle, 2 feet 6 inches. New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1882. 

 57723. U. S. Fish Commission. The head of the whale hav- 

 ing been cut off, a hole is made in the throat, the toggle is in- 

 serted — technically, •' dropped" — and by means of the blubber- 

 tackle the throat is hoisted on deck. 



WHALEMAN'S KNIVES. 



Boarding Blubber. 



knives used for subdividing the main piece into smaller 

 sections when hoisting in the blubber. 



Boarding-knife with sheath. 



Blade, steel; double-edged. Socket, iron. Handle, wood, with 

 Turk's head to prevent the hand of the manipulator from los- 

 ing its grip when the instrument is oily. Sheath, two pieces 

 of wood seized with twine. Length of knife and handle, 60 

 inches. Length of sheath, 31 inches. New Bedford, Massa- 

 chusetts, 1876. 25676. Gift of W. H. Cook & Co. Used in 

 boarding blubber. 



BOATJDING-KNIFE. 



Blade, cast steel; two-edged, with socket for handle. Handle, 

 wood, turned ; with cross-piece. Total length, 5 feet. Middle- 

 town, Connecticut, 1876. 26608. Gift of A. B. Crittenden. 

 Used when cutting-in the whale for "boarding" the blubber. 



BOARDING-KNIFE. 



Blade, cast steel ; double-edged ; handle, wood, with cross-piece, 

 and Turk's head. A boarding-knife with a short blade, evi- 

 dently broken off, with point sharpened, used in cutting up the 

 ambergris taken by the bark " Falcon." Total length, 4 feet 

 4 inches. New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1882. 55797. Gift of 

 Thomas Knowles & Co. (Owners of the bark "Falcon"). 

 Stamped, " J. Howard " (Manufacturer). 



Boarding-knife. 



Blade, cavalry saber, with hilt. Handle, wood, with cross-piece at 

 end. Total length, 4 feet 3 inches. New Bedford, Massachu- 

 setts, 1882. 55798. Gift of Thomas Knowles & Co. Used for 

 cutting the main blanket-piece, as it is rolled from the whale, 

 into small sections 3 to be lowered into the blubber-room. 



