Through a hole across the chocks a slender spindle of wood was inserted--to be easily broken should necessity arise. This “chock pin” kept the line from jumping out of its groove,--and was, moreover, when worn in the buttonhole ashore, the badge of the whaleman who had killed his whale. B--Main line tub--containing 225 fathoms of whale line. C--Reserve tub--holding from 75 to 125 fathoms. D--Loggerhead--a heavy snubbing post around which the whale line ran from the tub and thence forward to the bow. E--Mast step. F--Padded notch in the edge of the forward box into which the harpooneer braced his thigh when darting his irons. L--Centreboard. Except when under sail the boat was propelled by five oars, and in order to balance the power from this unequal number, oars of different lengths were used. G--Harpoon oar 16 feet long H--Bow oar 17 “ “ I--Midship oar 18 “ “ J--Tub oar 17 “ “ K--After or stroke oar 16 “ “ Except when under sail the boat was steered by means of an oar over twenty feet long. The complete equipment of a boat included paddles, harpoons, lances, spades, mast and sail, water and bread kegs, lantern, flares and waifs, and other small gear. [Illustration] _A BOAT ON THE CRANES_ The whaleboat was so lightly constructed that had it been allowed to hang by the hoisting tackle or “falls,” there was danger of it “hogging” or breaking its back. To obviate this “supporters” were provided to sustain part of the weight. These “cranes” were hinged and were swung in when the boats were lowered. After a boat was hoisted, the tubs were removed in order to further lighten her. The tubs were kept on a rack abreast of the boat, inboard, and the preparatory order before lowering was “Get your tubs aboard.” [Illustration] _SPARE BOATS_ Two spare boats were carried thus on the skids, and were brought into use when one or more of the others were “stove” or destroyed. Under these spares were racks on which cutting spades and such gear were stowed. This view is looking forward from the deck over the wheel. [Illustration] _HARPOONS_ The purpose of the harpoon was not to kill the whale but to be a means of “getting fast” with the whale line. The killing was done with the lance--a long shanked instrument with a small razor-sharp tip. From earliest times the whaleman had endeavoured to fashion a harpoon that would not “draw” or pull out. Many variations had been tried of the solid head type of “iron,” but they all gave way before the “toggle” iron, invented by a Negro named Lewis Temple in 1848. The sketch shows only the principal types--and the large variety of bombs and bomb guns has been omitted; they savour too much of modern methods and wholesale slaughter. A--Two flued iron. B--Single flued iron. C--Temple’s toggle iron. D--Modern toggle iron.