348 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [78] 



Lance-strap— Continued. 



yarn, with an eye-splice in the other end for making fast the 

 lance- warp. Length should be Cor 7 feet. .New Bedford, Mas- 

 sachusetts, 1882. 56399. Manufactured and presented by the 

 New Bedford Cordage Company. 



Short warp. 



A piece of whale-line, with a bowline at one end, and crowned and 

 the ends expended at the other to prevent the rope from unlay- 

 ing (unraveling). One end of this warp is intended to be made 

 fast to the strap of the "second iron' 7 ; the other end is bent 

 around the whale-line with a bowline, in order that the line may 

 be run freely when taken out by the whale. Manila hemp, 2 

 inches in circumference, three strands. Length, 4 fathoms. 

 New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1882. 56397. Manufactured 

 and presented by the New Bedford Cordage Company. 



WAIFS AND FLAGS. 



Locating the whereabouts of Dead Whales, and Signals for 



the Vessel. 

 Boat-waif. 



A small flag with a grayish blue (dungare) ground and white square 

 and compass (cotton cloth), made fast to a slender pine pole; 

 55 by 34 inches. 56854. U. S. Fish Commission. A kind of 

 flag used as a signal in a whale-boat, and for waiving (marking) 

 a dead whale. 



Boat-waif. 



Small flag with white field (cotton cloth) and dungare crescent, 

 attached to a slender pine pole ; 55 by 34 inches. 56855. U. S. 

 Fish Commission. A kind of flag used as a signal in a whale- 

 boat, and for waiving (marking) a dead whale. 



National Flag. 

 American ensign. 



Ensign carried twelve years in the Hudson Bay fishery by the 

 whaling-schooner Abbie Bradford (114.75 tons), of New Bedford, 

 Massachusetts. 8 by 12 feet. New Bedford, Massachusetts, 

 1882. 57720. Gift of Jonathan Bourne. The American ensign 

 is always carried at the mizzen peak by whaling-vessels. 



