PORTER S J0UR:\M., 



181 



sel, and it is likely you will not have done so, unless you 

 have had extraordinary success. 



On running down the coast of Chili and Peru, you will 

 frequently observe streaks of coloured water, from ten to 

 twenty leagues from the land, on the outer edge of which is 

 considered good whaling ground, as the squid, their princi- 

 pal food, keep about those places. It must be observed, that 

 w^here soundu^gs are to be had, spermaceti whales are not to 

 be found. 



Secondly, respecting the practices of those who follow 

 this business, I shall only touch on the most important arti- 

 cles, as it is not to be supposed that a pursuit of this na- 

 ture would be engaged in by those entirely unacquainted 

 w ith it. 



Fine vessels, of from two hundred and fifty to four hun- 

 dred tons burthen, mounting from six to eighteen guns, and 

 manned with from twenty-five to'thirty-five men, abundantly 

 supplied with whaling geer, casks of a superior quality to 

 contain the oil, large copper tanks, iron boilers, skimmers, 

 tubs, leather hose for starting the oil, spare whale-boats, 

 frames, plank, &c. Szc, together wdth three years supplies 

 of provisions of every description, and of the best kind, as 

 well as clothing for the seamen, and as much water as they 

 can carry conveniently, are despatched, at an expense of 

 from fifty to seventy thousand dollars, on those voyages. 

 The crew^s are entered on shares, and, at the expiration of 

 the voyage, receive their proportion of the nett proceeds 

 thereof, agreeably to the contract they can make with their 

 owners, the captain generally receiving one eightieth part 

 of the whole. Mates, boat-steerers, harpooners, line-mana- 

 gers, oarsmen, ship-keepers, &c. &:c., all are allowed their 

 due proportions. The captains are also pursers for their 

 ships, and make large profits on their supplies of slops, &c., 

 and advances of money to their crews. As they are allow^- 

 ed to sell on the coast small quantities of merchandise, to 

 defray the expenses of refreshing their ship's companies, 

 they derive also considerable profits therefrom ; and, by 

 means of presents or bribes to the governors and others, 

 are enabled to smuggle on shore, and sell at great profits, 

 considerable quantities of dry goods, which are ^frequently 

 brought out in their oil-casks, for fear of search being made 

 by the Spanish guarda-costas. and other picaroons which 



