232 MARINE MAM3IALS OF THE NOBTH-WESTERN COAST. 



on the lookout calls out, "There she blows;" if jjreachhig, lie calls out, "There she 

 breaches;" if turning flukes, he reports, "There goes flukes." Instantly the officer 

 of the deck, or the captain, inrpiires, "Where away?" when he is immediately 

 answered, "Right ahead," or "On the beam," or "Two points on the beam," or 

 quarter, as the case may be. Tlie next question is, "How far off?" which is quickly 

 answered. If near by, should it Ije calm weather, all hands are called, the ship is 

 hauled aback, if necessary, and the boats are immediately dropped into the water 

 for the chase ; if a long distance off, and a good breeze is blowing, all sail is set 

 to reach the locality of the object of pursuit Ijefore lowering. The capture being 

 made (should tliere be a commanding breeze), the sliip is run alongside the whale; 

 or if it be calm, the animal is towed to the vessel. Then the fluke -chain or fluke- 

 rope is fastened (as at A, in the diagram showing the manner of cutting- in the 



Bluruer-hook .\xd Fin- chain. 



Bowhead and Right Whale), and is then hauled in through the fluke -chain chock, 

 which is at tlie bow, and well secured to the sanqisou-post, the head of the animal 

 being toward the stern. The cutting- tackles, which comprise two heavy purchases, 

 are then sent aloft, and shackled to chain or rope pendants at the mainmast- 

 head, where they are placed in position by rope guys from the foremast- head, and 

 the falls of the cutting -tackles are then taken forward to the windlass. The cut- 

 ting-stage, which is so constructed as to admit of the officers standing upon it 

 imiiiediately over the carcass when using the cutting- spades, is put over the side 

 and lowered into jiosition ; meanwhile, the rest of the cutting-gear is being got in 

 readiness, which consists of toggles, spades, boarding and leaning knives, gaffs, 

 pikes, blubber -hooks, head -straps, flu -chain, throat -toggle, head -axes, etc. If the 

 prize be a Right Whale, or Bowhead, the fin -chain is put on the fin, as at B (in 



