Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-28
THE EVENING STAR.

FRIDAY.

FULLY EoUIPPED AMERICAN WHALE BOAT
One OF the most interesting and valuable exhi.
bits recently added 10 the fisheries collection OF
the National Museum Is a full-szed American
Whale boat, complete In all its details embracing
au the numerous articles az outft which known
10 the wnaleinen as boat-gear' and all the instru-
hehls OF capture and death commonly known as
craft" as well as n bomb gun from which the en-
piosiye lance Is discharged. The boat asst now
lies In the museum building. Is fully equipped and
ready 10 ''go on 70 whale A whaieInan that
could not Kill a 'fshr with such an outit had bet
Ter JON the 'deck-wonopers." The boat il OF that
sVle technically known as q twenty-eight
foot boat, and from the markings, /. b..
on the irons and other articles az
boat-gesr, has evidently seen active service as .
larboaru boat on a whaling vessel, while the In
strunents themselves show every Indication az
having been used in killing whales. This boat az
most remarkable feature being the acuteness Of
the angle OF the STERN which is narrower than the
head, In order that the boat may be sterned-
when the whale has been struck. avoid the LASH
ings OF the ponderous nukes of the infuriated or
frightened animal. The most prominent insfr,s-
mentS are the harpoonS or irons. which are en-
pDyed solely To fasten the boat 10 the whale when
the hand-lances are TO be used. The first and
ond irons are strapped" and in their proper posi-
tonS in the boat-crotch. Notwithstanding the poet
Like the lightning fame
Flew our harpoonS OF steel"
, These Instruments are not made OF steel, but oe
the toughest and most pable of sort iron, and
can be bent in the most fantastic shapes but
seldom broken. The hand-lances are 10 be found
resting I'm the lance-hooks ready % be grasped by
the oflieer OF the boat when he works" upon a
whale The bomb-gun, enyeoped I'm its canvass
covering on the starboari side, having inaugurated
more genteel and sportsnanlike method OF kill
ing whales, Is ready 10 send a whizzing bomb
lance on It's aerial flight TO a vital spot In the
whale; the whale-lines, or tDw-lines. are coiled
In their respective tubs, which are known as the
large and small tub, the former being round and
the latter OF the improved style, oval: the COM
pass. with which lost boat may find It's bearings,
ships under the cuddy; the head and stern-kniNes
for cutting foul line are In their sheaths: the
drag, or drug" 10 retaru the motions
or wounded adult whale through the
water, or ft may he bent on TO q
baby whale, In which case the dam, with that ma
terna inst net for the safety OF her young remain
ing by Its side vainly assisting I'm its escape, may
be killed; the breaker, holding i've gallons OF
fresh water, and The lanten-keg slung under the
cuddy, containing candles, matches, a lantern,
hard bread, pipes and tobacco for the crew; the
piggin for baing the boat; the bucket for wettanR
hot-ine; the hatchet for cutting iron poles from
deceased whale, and the waif for locating its
Whereabouts; the mast, sails, paddles, oars and
steer1ng-oar brace occupy their appropriate places
while the rudder is trfced up, is customary when
whale has been struck, TO prevent the fouling OF
the line The loggerhead around which the Line
swiftly gl1deS; the checks through which the line
sounding whale; the clumsy cleat against which
the harpOoner braces himself when striking q
whale, and the lions tongue, called by the Nan.
tucket whalemen, which braces the loggerhead
ana Stern-SieetS are TO be found only I'm a whale
boat The boat, with its entire outfit, has been
donated by j. h Bartlett Sons, OF New Bedford,
Mass