66 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
strap of the main tackle, called a kant ; the use of 
which is to turn the body of the fish, as the flincing 
advances; large masses are then cut off until the 
whole operation is finished, and each piece hoisted 
in by persons at the capstan, who, in the present 
instance, cheered every heaving with a merry ex- 
tempore song, which excited much mirth, and kept 
all the men in good humour, while they united 
their strength by stepping to the tune. The belly 
part being finished, the whole was turned round by 
the kant, and the tackles fastened to the fins for 
flincing that part, which could not be done as it was 
first placed. Each mass, on being lowered on the 
deck, was cut into square pieces by the boat-steerers, 
and thrown into the hold, where others were em- 
ployed in stripping off the unproductive part from 
the blubber. The whale-bone, jaw-bones, and what- 
ever was valuable in the head, having been hoisted 
on board, the body, with all its appurtenances, was 
cut away from the tackles, and descended to the 
bottom of the deep. 
A whale is estimated by the extent of its laminse 
or whale-bone, and, consequently this capture pro- 
mised but little advantage to the owners, the bone 
measuring only four feet. It was presumed to be 
about four years old. The process of flincing being 
finished, the decks were cleared and cleaned. Cap- 
tain Scoresby, whose indefatigable zeal ever kept 
him«on the look out, saw from the mast-head, three 
whales lying together to windward, and one at the 
same time was seen to leeward of us: the usual 
