CHAPTER VI. 

 LIFE Am CIIARACTErtlSTICS OF AMERICAN WHALEMEN. 



In taking a general view of whaling life, we find it replete with incidents of 

 daring adventure, hardship, and deprivation. The vessels first employed in deep- 

 sea whaling were so contracted, that no degree of comfort could be afforded to 

 their crews, who, by sheer, ambitious hardihood, maintained existence on board 

 during their short voyages. As the pursuit became extended, requiring larger 

 vessels, the barks and brigs of the fishers were much improved, while the 

 absence from their native shores was more prolonged. At this period a system 

 for fitting out vessels for long vo5'ages was inaugurated, as well as the establish- 

 ment of effective discipline on board, for which well-regulated whale -ships have 

 always been noted; and the whale-fishery steadily advanced under the judicious 

 management of those able and systematic business gentlemen, whose names have 

 long since become as familiar in the remotest parts of the ocean world, as the 

 ships named in their honor. The broad expanse of the Atlantic soon became too 

 limited a field for the vast enterprise, and in consequence of this, the fourth 

 epoch in the fishery was inaugurated, when still larger vessels were sent out to 

 search the nearly unknown waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. These vessels 

 doubled Capes Horn and Good Hope, in their wanderings, which were so pro- 

 tracted, under the most favorable auspices, that the "green hands," many of 

 whom never had snuffed the ocean's breezes until afloat on board a whaler, 

 returned to their New England or Western homes, transformed into seamen and 

 whalemen. 



The Cape Horn and Indian Ocean voyages were at first of comparatively short 

 duration ; but as the pursuit was followed to more distant seas, three years or 

 more passed away before the return of these cruisers.* During this long absence, 



*The sperm -whaling- voyages were the most Pacific, which was amusingij^ illustrative of the 

 protracted and tedious. Some forty years ago, tact and energy of her master in managing 

 an incident transpired on board a sperm whale- affairs, after wearing away nearly a whole sea- 

 ship, while cruising about the equator, in the son with indifferent success. Near the close oi 



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