| Deck
plan and side and interior plan of whaling schooner Amelia Of New
Bedford, Massachusetts Drawing by C. S. Raleigh.
Whaling sailing ships could be readily be distinguished
from other vessels even if not built specifically for the purpose
of whaling by certain features:
 | The try-works usually positioned towards the
front of the ship (correctly called the "pointy
end"). |
| 2 or more usually 3 large whaling boats. |
| Provision for substantial storage for barrels
to hold whale oil in the hold. |
| Blocks and other lifting gear amidships to
haul parts of the flensed whale aboard for further processing. |
In 1860 a sailor on an American whaler earned
20c a day with lodging (cramped) and food (pretty bad). This
compared to around 90c a day for an unskilled laborer on the land
which after food and lodging were taken into account, came to
45-60c a day. So the lowest type of shore laborer in the USA
earned 2-3 times what a common seaman on a whaler at sea earned.
Desertion was commonplace and whaling captains often avoided ports
or even islands where this was easy.
Image courtesy NOAA |
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