[85] fisheries of the united states. 355 



Whaleman's ship-bread. 



A kind of ship biscuit, usually known as " hardtack," common to 

 the majority of sea-going vessels. Weight, 3| ounces. New 

 Bedford, Massachusetts, 1882. 56880. Gift of J. T. Buttrick 

 (Manufacturer). Baked expressly for a whaling voyage, made 

 of common wheat flour and cold water, without salt or other 

 ingredients ; kneaded, cut into shape, and perforated by ma- 

 chinery driven by steam, and baked on soap-stone in a rotary 

 oven ; packed in air-tight ten-barrel casks when stowed away 

 in the ship's hold. 



SCRIMSHAW WORK AND CURIOSITIES. 



Whaleman's trousers. 



Pair of canvas pants, old style, with fly, showing rent made by the 

 jaws of a shark. Worn by N. N. Cook, schooner "Belle Isle," 

 Provincetown, Massachusetts, when bitten by a shark, on Feb- 

 ruary 22, 1841, in Samana Bay, West Indies, while discharg- 

 ing the duties of boat-steerer on the whale, adjusting the 

 blubber-hook when cuttiug-in. Full length, 37 inches ; waist, 

 28 inches. Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1882. 56898. Gift 

 of N. N. Cook. 



Scrimshawed ship. 



Model of whale-ship carved in relief; hull, sails, masts, and spars, 

 wood. All sails set. Hull painted black; sails, white. Waves 

 represented by putty, painted. Box frame. Size of frame, 

 26^ by 13£ inches. New London, Connecticut, 1882. 57059. 

 Gift of Lawrence & Co. Made at sea by a whaleman. 



Cane. 



Walking-stick made of whalebone (baleen) by a whaleman at sea 

 (Scrimshaw work). Heart, several pieces, wrapped spirally 

 with strips of baleen, and wormed with cord of the same ma- 

 terial. Three Turk's head, baleen, at top, bottom, and center. 

 Length, 33 inches. Edgartowu, Massachusetts, 1882. 56897. 

 Gift of J. W. Coffin. 



Whaleman's banjo. 



Body, an old tin fruit or vegetable can, over one end of which a 

 piece of porpoise skin is strained and held with spun-yarn. 

 Neck, hickory ; sound-board and pegs, pine. Three strings, 

 common wrapping twine, waxed. Length, 20 inches. Prov- 

 incetown, Massachusetts, 1882. 56872. Gift of George O. 

 Knowles. Made on board schooner "Quickstep," of Province- 

 town, Massachusetts, by a negro (Portuguese) whaleman. It 

 is said by his shipmates that the manufacturer " discoursed 

 most excellent music" upon this rudely constructed instrument- 



