122 MABINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



successful voyage, there is no lack of enterprising merchants ready to invest their 

 capital in any adventure when there is a prospect of ultimate gain ; and no ocean 

 or sea where there is a possibility of navigating appears too perilous for the advent- 

 urous seamen to try their luck upon. The very fact of the voyage being fraught 

 with danger and difficulty tends to stimulate them to action. And in this remote 

 part of the world of which we have spoken, that was unknown to the early explor- 

 ers as well as to those who have more recently voyaged toward the Antarctic con- 

 tinent and for the geographical position of which we are indebted to the enter- 

 prise and nautical skill of those of our countrymen who commenced the life of a 

 sailor by "coming through the hawse-holes" — we find that rival parties are left on 

 its bleak shores, who, when opposed the one to the other, watch with greater care 

 every movement that may be made, than the coming and going of the creatures 

 which are the objects of pursuit. Many a war of words has arisen, with the brand- 

 ishing of club and lance in the strife ; but, like the pioneer California miners, 

 when left to rely on their own good sense for self-government, there was little to 

 fear but that all laws made would be simple, just, and strictly adhered to. When 

 parties from different vessels are located on the same beach, the custom is for all 

 to work together when killing the animals, as well as when skinning and cutting 

 the blubber from the bodies into "horse -pieces." These are thrown into one or 

 more piles ; after which, the men of each party are ranged in squads, and each 

 one, in turn, draws a piece from the heap, until all is disposed of. These divisions 

 are made whenever the animals are found and killed in any considerable numbers ; 

 and, if far from the rendezvous, the blubber is "backed," or rolled in casks to the 

 main depot. "Backing" is the stringing of eight or ten pieces on a pole, which 

 is carried on the shoulders of two men ; but if a cask is used, three men are allot- 

 ted to each one of six or eight barrels' capacity, to roll which the distance of two 

 miles is allowed to be a day's work. While the ship is away, homeward bound, or 

 returning to the island for another cargo, the tender may be at Desolation Island, 

 picking up what scattering Elephants can be found upon shores that once swarmed 

 with millions of those huge beasts; or a short whaling -cruise is made, until the 

 time comes for commencing operations at the island. 



Hunting for the scattering animals about the shores of Desolation Island, 

 "between seasons," is the most exposed and solitary pursuit either in the whale 

 or seal fishery. The tender takes a detachment of the crew, and plies along the 

 island coast, landing one or two men on each of the best beaches, with a supply 

 of water and provisions; a tent or shanty is erected, partly of wood, partly of 

 canvas ; and the skins of the Elephants furnish the floor, couch, and covering of 



