Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-05
TO FIT OUT A WHALER
PROVISIONS AND EQUIPMENT
TAKEN ON A CRUISE.
Revival at New Bedford of It's Old
Industry-Supplies Shipped to Ports
Near Cruising Grounds.
From the New York Sun

From the New York Sun.
For the first time In a number of years
the water front recently presented an old
fashioned picture-the fitting of several
whaleships at one time. 1t Is scene which
probably will not again be enacted in the
next decade, says the New Bedford Stand
ard, for 1t is hardly to be expected that the
same number of whalers will fit for voy-
ages at the same time
Grouped in the docks north of the foot
ofSUnion street. five whaieships-the Bertha,
Canton, Wanderer, Sullivan and Ellen A.
Swift-have all been getting ready for sea-
The activity displayed is certainly sug-
gestive of olden times when 1t was no I'M
common sight to dozens OF ships dis
charging valuable cargoes or making ready
for cruise.
1t is no small task this fitting a whaer
for a voyage, and in the good old days
when supplies were put on board to last
the whole cruise, extending oftentimes over
period OF forty months. grub" enough
was slowed down to feed quite army.
Just think of 1t. In those days when
four-boat ship went to with her crew
of thirty-two she was packed under her
matches with supplies, and she remained
out until the supply was exhausted. If
fortunate in making good cut before the
supply was used up home she came. for
then she sailed with no intention of ship
ping home her catches as is done today.
No supplies were shipped to ports near the
cruising grounds. and If port was made
while on a voyage it was only to make
repairs or for the purpose of giving the
men run ashore. Occasionally ships would
stop at Islands for fresh water, wood. fruit
and vegetables The principal provisions
necessary to sustain life were taken from
the home port.
The Supplies.
The fitting of such ship is quite a task.
1t called for furnishing her with:
One hundred barrels of flour baked into
hard bread-equal to $4,000 pounds.
One hundred barrels of flour packed into
ten barrel casks kiln dried for the purpose.
One hundred and twenty-five barrels Of
pork.
Three hundred barrels of salt beef.
Three hundred pounds of sugar.
Eight hundred gallons of vinegar
Twelve hundred gallons of molasses.
Fifteen hundred pounds of butter.
A cask of rice.
Four casks of beans.
A cask of peas.
A cask of dried apples.
Onions to last q season.
Potatoes in quantity. These last ex-
hausted the whaler touched at some is
land, where yams or sweet potatoes were
substituted.
Cabbages. turnips, ETC., were taken for
a short period as these supplies are per-
ishable.
The above constituted the principal stock
WITH winch d WHdleI Wdo ouppiiSN' A'NHANS"
there was some canned goods Tor the
officers. Now, however. in fitting a snip II
is only for a year, and this only with her
-four hard bread, beef and pork and canned
goods which latter are more in evidence
today than when such articles were con-
s:dered a luxury The men forward now
adays occasionally see canned goods. Had
this been the case fifty years ago the sailor
would have died from shock. In those days
sailors got what they called soft bread,
the article of food we all have at home,
not more than twice week. Now most
whaling vessels serve this once day.
The fitting of a whaler with her supplies
depends largely upon the master OF the
ship. Some prefer more pork than peer,
others run to canned goods in abundance,
and no two are alike in some of the details.
With the staff of life-four and hard bread
the invariable rule is between 500 and 600
pounds of bread month for four boat
ship, and packed flour in proportion. What
Is true of whaling masters in naming their
supplies applies to the use of whaleboats-
some even today preferring the wide wash
board to the ordinary gunwale pattern.
The Stop Chest.
Now supplies are shipped to recruiting
ports every six months, and in doing SO
the quantity shipped is based as above, the
intention being that the ship must always
have on board a six months supply. That
is why at the present time whaler upon
leaving her home port fits for year. But
food alone is not her fitting. for every snip
is supplied with large quantities of other
articles which are needed on a whaling
cruise Every man on board carries with
him a certain quantity OF tobacco, when,
of course, soon runs out, and then 1t is
that demand is made on the "slop chest.
The quantity of tobacco taken by some
ships would astonish most eeople. The
writer has heard of one instance where
/ 600 pounds wasn't a fieabite for the crew.
The ''slop chest" of whaleship is the
owners supply station, and can be drawn
upon by the members of the crew, with
whom the captain keeps an account. In
this chest are such articles as tobacco,
pipes, reefing jackets. monkey jackets,
thick trousers, denim trousers. undershirts,
bedding, and, in fact, everything that Is
liable to be needed such a voyage, even
sailor knows is an article in trade not to
be sneezed at.
Then there Is the whaling gear, which
includes harpoons, lances. head spades,
round spades fat shank spades cutting
spa des, boat spades. blubber hooks, and In
fact. articles too numerous to mention,
while every properly equipped whaleshp
coopers tools complete and carpenters
tools Her spars, blocks and sails are also
interesting items, while among the cordage
taken are manila lines and rope in guam
tity.
The fitting of a whaleshlp is more easily
spoken of than accomplished. Such a ship
as the Canton, which sails today on an
Atlantic ocean cruise. in fitting for sea,
stands her owner in a sum reaching into
the thousands of dollars. The expense is
beyond the Imagination of the average per-
son who might attempt to figure the cost.
80. 600 for an Auk's Skin.