THE A3IEEICAN WHALE-FISHERY. 225 



of canvas, a paper of tacks, two nippers, to which may be added a bomb -gun and 

 four bomb -lances ; in all, forty -eiglit articles, and at least eighty -two pieces. The 

 oars, sails, and pa/Idles, of course, are to propel the boat, yet we may say that the 

 two last mentioned are of much more importance now than formerly, by reason of 

 the objects of pursuit becoming more wary. The rowlocks conJine and support the 

 oars in their proper places when rowing ; the harpooms with the line are the instru- 

 ments used to fasten the boat to the whale; the line-tub holds the line; the hand- 

 lances are used in killing the whale after being haqooonod ; the lance -warp, when 

 connected to the lance -pole, is hitched to the clumsy -cleet to prevent its loss when 

 darted at the whale; the boat -warp is the painter to the boat; the short -warps 

 are to connect the second harpoon to the main line when a second iron is thrown 

 into the animal; the boat- spade is for cutting the cords about the "small" of the 

 victim, or that portion of the body wliich connects with the flukes, crippling it, 

 thereby retarding its progress through the water; the boat- hatchet and knives are 

 to cut the line should it get foul and endanger the boat, when fast ; the boat- 

 waif is a small flag, used as a signal, or placed in a dead whale to indicate its 

 whereabouts. The boat-hook is one of those indispensable implements, which is 

 put to a variety of uses, but especially to hook up a whale's fin or stray lines, or 

 to hold the boat in position ; and the boat -compass is used to find the true course 

 to any object not visible from the boat. The "drag" is for "bending on" to the 

 line to assist in impeding the whale when running, or is fastened to the line when 

 compelled to let it go from the boat. With the grapnel, the dead animal's flakes, 

 or its head, are haided up, in order to cut a hole and reeve the tow-rope, or to 

 hook up lines which can not be reached with the boat-hook; and the sweeping- 

 line, lead, and buoy, are used for getting the fin and fluke chains on to the whale 

 when alongside the ship, or otherwise. The boat -keg is for carrying a supply 

 of fresh water. The boat -bucket and piggin are for bailing the boat. The lantern- 

 keg is for holding in reserve a small supply of bread, a lantern, and fire -works, 

 in case the boat should be caught out at night, that the crew may be able to set 

 a light to indicate to the ship their whereabouts, and in extreme necessity to have 

 a small supply of food, with the luxury of a quid of tobacco or a smoke of a pipe. 

 The boat-crotch is to rest the end of the iron or lance -pole on; it ships in a hole 

 through or on the side of the gunwale. The tub -oar crotch is to receive the tub- 

 oar and raise it above the line -tub, when the boat is fast to a whale; the chock- 

 pins are to keep the whale -line in the chock. The canvas and tacks are to cover 

 holes Avliich may be staved in the boat ; the nippers are several layers of canvas 

 stitched together, and are used for holding on to tie line when it is swiftly run- 



Mahine BUmmals. — 29, 



