CURRENTS AND WHALING. 529 



whale-ships are often found in a state of lax discipline; both captains 

 and crew take this opportunity to lay their complaints before the 

 consuls, who are much troubled with them, and frequently at a loss 

 to understand and pass upon the merits of the case. The crews 

 usually complain of bad provisions, short allowance, and bad usage; 

 in some cases I have heard them assert that they felt their lives in 

 danger from the outrageous conduct of the captain ; and in one 

 instance, even the officers joined in the complaint. The captain, on 

 the other hand, believed that there was a conspiracy on foot to 

 poison him. 



Many Americans are found on the different islands, who have been 

 turned ashore from whale-ships, or left because they have broken 

 their liberty a single time, near the end of a voyage. Such treatment 

 leaves too much ground to believe that they are purposely left, in 

 order to increase the profits of the ship-master or owners. Several of 

 these men were received, in a perfectly destitute condition, on board 

 the Vincennes ; others were taken out of prison, and all related many 

 of the difficulties and troubles they had to encounter on board the 

 ship to which they were attached; although I am not generally dis- 

 posed to place much reliance on their statements, yet it cannot but 

 happen that out of so many cases there must be some in which the 

 seamen were in the right. 



It is difficult to suggest any remedy for this state of things by 

 legislation. The law passed in 1837 has had a beneficial effect in 

 protecting the crews against a short supply of provisions, and in 

 causing them to be furnished with wholesome food. But the quantity 

 as well as the quality of the rations ought to be fixed by law, that 

 every one who is restricted in food by his commander may receive an 

 equivalent in money. 



The ration has been hitherto left to the master and owner, and 

 although it is the true interest of the latter that the crew of his ship 

 should be well fed, yet there are many who think and practise the 

 contrary. I see no reason why there should not be a lawful ration 

 fixed as well in the merchant service as in the navy, and when it is 

 not supplied in full, that the crew shall be entitled to be paid for the 

 deficiency; it then could be no object for a master or owner to stint 

 them. I have generally observed that by far the greater part of the 

 complaints arise from this cause, and when the master is part owner 

 they are almost invariably made. 



Another cause of complaint arises from the practice of issuing slops 

 vol. v. 133 



