Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-05-04

and as soon as school of blackfish
were sighted, all the boats were
! lowered, the green men manned the
oars, and away went the boats in a
race to see which would strike the
first fish. OF course this would
blister the mems hands, but they
learned how TO handle an oar, and
themselves in boat, so that by the
time they reached the whaling
grounds, they were able to do good
service, and knew what was expect
ed of them. These blackfish yield
poor quality of oil, but it is used for
lighting purposes on board of ship.
They also learned to box the COM
pass and steer. Each boat carried
mast and sail, but these were only
set when, after whale had been
killed, they were engaged in towing
their prize to the ship.
"As soon as whaling ground was
reached the ship was put under
shortened sail-topsail, topgallant-
sail, staysail, jib and spanker-and
IA lookout was stationed at the fore
topgallantmast-head (crosstrees),
and boatstecrer at the main top
gallantmast-head to watch for
whales, each man taking his trick
at this and at the wheel, each
trick being of two hours. The
lookouts were sent aloft at daybreak,
and were not called down until the
sun disappeared. Then the ship
was placed under even shorter sail
for the night, carrying just enough
canvas fore and aft to keep her
steady. The yards were braced
sharp up into the winds eye, the
helm dashed, and the watch set for
the night, watch being one Of the
boats crew, relieved in turn by an
other, so that each crew has equal
time below.
AT morning dawn sail is made
again. At 8 o'clock the boats crew
then on watch was relieved by
either the larboard or starboard
watch, each being on duty four
hours at time. From to s p. IN.
was divided into two watches call
ed dog watches, so that the hours
of duty of each man was changed
daily.
"A vessel would remain upon one
whaling ground for days and weeks
at time, always under short sail,
moving back and forth about four
or five knots per hour, and always
beating to windward, lacking every
few hours thus securing, as it were,
the ground Hover. Unless success
full in finding and taking whales, all
sail would be set, and away We went
for some other cruising ground.
"As soon as whale is struck
sharks appear in great numbers,
and they never leave the whale for
an instant until it is lowed along
side, stripped of it's bluhber and cast
adrift; then they 60 with the carcass.
These sharks are big fellows and
very ravenous. When the whale
is secured to the ship some one
must go over upon him, cut open
the blubber and hitch tackle-block
thereto. This is such dangerous
business that the boat-steerers take
turns at it. They would be snap
ped up BY sharks in a minute but
for two men who protect him with
long-handled spades that were
ground as sharp as razor and were
used to cut blubber. If shark
, got too close to the boatstcerer, one
] of these men would jab spade into
him with all his might and he would
. make off in hurry.
;; During the trying-out process all
; hands were on duty during the day
! until 6 p. m, at which time half OF
e the crew went down below, but re-
! licved the other watch at midnight
and all went OH duty again at Ga. nj
in other words, six hours out of the
. twenty-four was all the rest any
man of us could get. Vessels that
|. went around Cape Horn, or Cape
!. Horners as they were called, max.
ing voyages of four or five years
). necessarily carried more men tc
man their boats; and had so many
men on board that even while try.
ing out oil one half of the crew
: could do all the work, so as soon as
). whale was secured to the ship they
!. used to set regular watches, -four
hours on and four hours of, day
: aud night.
1.-THE time usually required to SC
cure "a whale. strip off the blubbpr.