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Deck of whaler, showing try-works, scraphopper, and
utensils employed in trying-out oil, 1902. The "try-works" were
central to the work of whaling until factory ships were built and more
modern technology was applied to the job of getting oil from blubber.
They are seen here as the rectangular chest-like structure amidships.
They were closed up when not in use. Essentially
very large simple cauldrons heated by an enclosed fire separated from
the deck by fire-bricks and a shallow bath filled with sea water, the
try-pots accepted cut-up chunks of blubber from whales where the oil
would melt and be collected into barrels. When the skin or other parts
had given up all the oil they were going to, they would be fished out
of the try-pots and used to fuel the fire.
Picture courtesy NOAA
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