WHALERS AND WHALING. 



when she was the greatest whaling port in the world, and her male 

 population — as somebody has cleverly put it — "was divided into three 

 classes. Those who were away on a voyage, those who were just re- 

 turning from one and those who were preparing to start on one." 

 Many of the oldest houses still have the Cupola on top where the 

 owner used to ascend, spy glass in hand to look out for an expected 

 ship, and some have a most curious device for telling which way the 

 wind blows without going outside to see. A round dial marked with 

 the points of the compass, and with a movable hand like a clock, is 

 fixed to one of the ceilings and connected with the weathercock in 

 such a way as to register its every variation. How characteristic of 

 an old sailor to feel that he must know the direction of the wind the 

 minute he opens his eyes in the morning. 



Much of all this is a twice told tale. Must be, from the very 

 interest of the subject. But I have ventured to hope that the details 



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