222 MARINE SlAIiUIALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST 



the chief mate, who stand no watch, but are up at any time of night, if occasion 

 require, and throughout the day. The two watches are designated as the starboard 

 and port, the second mate being officer of the starboard, and the third mate of the 

 port watch. There being four boats, there are as many mates, or "boat-headers," 

 one of which has charge, or, as it is termed, heads each boat, except when the 

 captain chooses to go in his own boat, which is the starboard one ; at such time, 

 the fourth mate acts as boat-stcercr. The chief mate's is the port boat, the second 

 mate's the waist boat, and the third mate's the bow boat. All the boats are sus- 

 pended from tall, stout wooden davits, with two cranes imder each for the keel to 

 rest upon ; the last mentioned three usually hoist on the port side of the ship, and 

 the captain's on the opposite quarter. Besides the boat -header, there is a boat- 

 stcerer and four men, who complete the crew. The boat-steercrs are shipped as 

 such ; but the men for each boat are selected from the hands, having due regard 

 to their physical strength, activity, and intelligence, and the remainder of the 



the extent of my business.' 'You then are at 

 liberty to agree with us, and I am authorized 

 by Mr. Pitt to tell you, that you may make 

 your own terms!' I told him it was too late! 

 ' I made very moderate proposals to you, but 

 could not obtain anything worth my notice. I 

 went to France, and sent forward my proposals, 

 which were doubly advantageous to us, com- 

 pared with what I offered your government. 

 They considered them a very short time, and 

 on my arrival in Paris, were ready "to act. I 

 had sejoarate interviews with all the Ministers 

 of State necessary to the subject, who all agreed 

 to, and granted my demands.' He still insisted 

 that I was not bound to France, and I should 

 make my own terms. But all in vain; the time 

 had passed over ! Lord Litchfield also sent for 

 me on the same subject, but was soon convinced 

 that it was too late. The minority came to me 

 for materials to attack Lord Hawkcsbury, but I 

 refused to supply them." 



It was at one of these interviews that Mr. 

 Pitt, or his majesty George III, asked Mr. Rotch 

 what equivalent would be given in return for all 

 these favors now sought from his government. 

 "I am going to give England and his majesty 



the services of our young men from my native 

 place— the island of Nantucket." And fully was 

 this assertion verified in subsequent years. Nan- 

 tucket-men went to England, and her great su- 

 premacy in whaling was carried forward by these 

 promised whalers ; and for years she held sway 

 through all difficulties in this branch of commerce 

 in Europe. The island was well represented in 

 London by more than five hundred ship -masters, 

 the last of whom (Wm. Swain, Esq.) died in 1868, 

 upwards of ninety -two years of age. 



Mr. Eotch's son Benjamin was left in Dunkirk 

 as a partner of his son-in-law, Samuel Hodman, 

 who resided at Nantucket. ShijDS were soon aft- 

 er fitted out from Nantucket, on distant whaling 

 voyages, manned and officered by Nantucket-men, 

 who, after filling their vessels, repaired to Dun- 

 kirk, where their oil and whalebone found a 

 ready market for France and Holland. The busi- 

 ness was pursued with great energy by Mr. Kotch 

 and his associates. All their ships came from 

 America with the necessary outfits for their voy- 

 ages, as they could not be easily obtained in 

 France. Many artisans immediately connected 

 with the business left Nantucket with their fami- 

 lies to take up their residence in Dunkirk. 



