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Whaling Cards 11-15
Ogden's 1927 Cigarette
Cards as a summary of the whaling industry at the time
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cards: 1-5
| 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20
| 21-25
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 11 A Right Whale
The Right Whale is found in the northern Pacific and the Behring Sea, and provides the "whale bone" popularly but erroneously associated
with every species of whale. This whale is a surface-feeder, rushing through the water with open jaws. At intervals the jaws close and
the water is forced out of the plates or blades of baleen ("whale-bone") of which there are some 380 or more on each side. These form an
efficient sieve or strainer through which the water is drained off leaving behind the minute organisms and tiny fish on which the whale feeds.
By reason of its massive jaws the Right Whale cannot see in front. |
 12 A "School" of Whales
While lone whales are met with in all seas, it is usual for them to congregate together in "schools" partly in order to protect the young calves.
These calves are vulnerable to attack by sharks and it is a wonderful sight to see a mother-whale tuck her baby under her flipper for safety.
Sometimes a large school of cows and calves will be under the guidance of a few bulls, and these "school masters" are generally very savage
and liable to show fight. There is some strange medium of communication between the whales in a school and at the
slightest noise they may be easily gallied and all hope of capture lost. |
 13 Sharks round a Dead Whale
Strange as it may sound, the whaler sees more sharks than any other seaman. When the carcase of a whale is being towed and "cut-in" it is no exaggeration
to say that the water fairly teems with sharks. They rush through the water at great speed and mount upon the side of the huge carcase, tearing away pieces of
blubber as large as footballs. Many sharks are decapitated or transfixed by the keen-edged whaling-spades used for "cutting-in". |
 14 "Trying Out"
The blubber after being cut into large slabs called horse pieces, is taken to the mincer. In the old-style whaler one man held the blubber while another with the mincing-knife
cut the blubber into thin strips called bible-leaves. "Trying-out" was started on the head, as the oil from this is of great value.
The case a large cavity in the head is practically filled with liquid speramceti, which solidifies into the brittle white fatty substance used for candles and ointments :
the junk, a triangular mass at the snout being also rich in the same material. At the present time
oil is also extracted from the whale meat and bone by means of steam presses. |
 15 "Gamming"
In the old whaling days, when the ship's crews had, perhaps, been separated from kith and kin for two or three years, the meeting of two whalers was an occasion for great rejoicing, for a mere
passing salutation was by no means sufficient. A certain amount of ceremony was observed in the greeting of the skippers and news of home was eagerly sought. Outward bound vessels were eager to
learn all they could about the hunting grounds, while both crews made the most of an opportunity to "let off steam" in boisterous song and dance. Old-fashioned chanties and sentimental songs of sweetheart,
wife and home were heard, and yarns were exchanged. |
cards: 1-5
| 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20
| 21-25
Search ebay for items related to: whaling
| whaling
cards | cigarette
cards
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