CUTTING IN AND TRYING OUT 139 



surface, the head abreast the wheel on the quar- 

 ter-deck — which will give an idea of the whale's 

 length. 



The gang-plank was taken from the bulwarks 

 and a cutting stage lowered over the whale. 

 This stage was made of three broad planks. 

 Two projected from the ship's side, the third 

 joined their outer ends. Along the inside of 

 the third plank was a low railing. Two officers 

 took their station on the outer plank with long- 

 handled spades to cut in the blubber. The spade 

 was enough like a garden spade in shape to sug- 

 gest its name and was fastened to a long pole. 

 Its cutting edge was as sharp as a razor. 



A block and tackle was rigged above the 

 whale, the upper block fastened to the cross- 

 trees of the main mast and the tackle carried 

 forward to the windlass. A great hook was fas- 

 tened into the whale's blubber, and everything 

 was ready for the cutting in. 



As the officers with their spades cut under the 

 blubber, the sailors heaved on the windlass. The 

 blanket piece of blubber began to rise. As it 

 fose, the officers kept spading under it, rolling 



