BOATS AND INSTRUMENTS, ETC. 155 
of form for swiftness of motion, and at the same time 
considerable buoyancy and stability, to enable them to 
resist the effects of a sometimes rough and boisterous 
sea. They are about twenty-seven feet long, by four 
in breadth ; sharp at both ends for motion in either 
direction without the necessity of turning ; near that 
end which is considered the stern of the boat, is placed 
a strong upright rounded piece of wood, not exactly in 
the centre, called the “ loggerhead/ 5 at the other end 
which is called the head, is a groove exactly in the 
centre, through which the harpoon line runs out. To 
each boat are allotted two lines of a peculiar construc- 
tion, of 200 fathoms in length, with their tubs, into 
which they are carefully coiled ready for use,— three or 
four harpoons, two or three lances, a keg containing a 
lantern, tinder-box, and other small articles, to procure 
light in case of being benighted, — two or three small 
flags, called “ whifts,” which are inserted in the dead 
whale, in case the boats should leave it in chase of 
others, so that they may be afterwards more readily 
found; and one or two “ drougues/ 5 which are quadri- 
lateral pieces of board, with a central handle or upright, 
by which they are attached occasionally to the harpoon 
line, for the purpose of checking in some degree the 
speed of the whale in sounding, or running. 
Each boat has a crew of six men, two of whom are 
called the “headsman 55 and “ boatsteerer/ 5 (see cut, p. 
154). Four of these boats are generally used in the 
chase, and are under the command of the captain and 
the mates respectively. From the commencement of 
