236 MARINE 3IAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



jaw, in sections of several layers, and stowed below, where it remains until an 

 opportunity occurs, in fine weather, to again take it on deck, when the slabs are 

 separated and the gum scraped off; after which they are washed and dried, and 

 when packed in bundles, are ready for market. 



But the cutting - in of a Sperm Whale differs materially from that of the 

 whalebone whale, although it would appear that the latter was forced into nearly 

 every conceivable posture, during the systematic process of mutilation in order to 

 obtain its covering ; yet, in addition, the lifeless form of the Sperm Whale is 

 made to assume a nearly vertical attitude during the course of flensing, as it 

 was wont to do when filled with animation. The first procedure after the animal 

 is fastened to the ship by the fluke -chain and head -rope, is to cut a hole through 

 the blubber, between the eye and fin, at A, as seen in the accompanying outline 

 sketch ; then, after cutting the scarfs on each side and around the end of the first 

 blanket -piece, a blubber- hook, attached to one of the cutting- tackles, is inserted 

 into the hole at A, and the piece raised by means of the tackle until the whale is 

 rolled on its side ; then the line of separation between the upper jaw and junk is 

 cut, as from L to C, and if a large whale, the line of sepai-ation is cut between 

 the junk and case, as from B to E, and a cut is made across the root of the case 

 from E to F ; a scarf is also made around the root of the lower jaw, from near 

 the corner of the mouth to Gr. A chain -strap is then put on the jaw near H, and 

 hooked or shackled to the second cutting- tackle, and raised by that purchase; 

 while the other tackle, attached to the piece, is slackened off if need be, so as to 

 let the whale roll upon its back ; when, by means of the tackle attached, and by 

 cutting away the tongue and the adhering flesh, the jaw is wrenched from its 

 socket, and placed on deck. This being accomplished, the first tackle, which is 

 attached to the piece, is hove up by means of the windlass until the whale is 

 rolled over to its opposite side, when the lines of separation are cut to correspond 

 to those made opposite ; holes are then morticed through the head close to the 

 upper jaw-bone near I, at the end of the junk near J, and at the root of the case 

 near K, and through these holes straps are rove, and lines are made fast to those 

 of the junk and case. The second cutting -tackle is then hooked in the strap which 

 is around the upper jaw at I; the fluke -chain is slackened off, and the first tackle 

 fastened to the piece is lowered, when all hands heave on the head -tackle, forcing 

 the whale down again, and thus bringing the creature's head up, and the body 

 nearly to a vertical position. The officers upon the cutting -stage, with their keen 

 spades, cut away between the bones and junk from L to C ; and the enormous 

 weight of the whole fatty mass of the head liangmg down, opens the gash between 



