IN THE SPERM WHALE FISHERY. 
157 
suffering and fatigue unheeded and almost unfelt, under 
the eager excitement of the chase, for hope supports 
their minds. The crew of the boat, as has been men- 
tioned, consists of the headsman, boatsteerer, and four 
hands ; of these, the headsman, who has the command 
of the boat, steers it until the whale is reached and 
struck with the harpoon. The boatsteerer also, at this 
time pulls the “ bow oar,” but when near the whale he 
ceases rowing, quits the oar and strikes the harpoon 
into the animal, the line attached to which runs between 
the men to the after part of the boat, and after passing 
two or three times round the loggerhead, is continuous 
with the coils lying in the tubs at the bottom of the 
boat. The boatsteerer now comes aft, and steers the 
boat by means of an oar passed through a ring attached 
to the stern called a “ grummet,” he also attends the 
line through all the subsequent operations ; the heads- 
man at the same time passes forwards, and takes the 
station at the head of the boat, prepared to plunge his 
lance into the body of the whale at the first opportunity, 
and it requires considerable tact and experience to do 
this in the most effectual manner, which will be more 
fully described in the following chapter. 
