Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
Captain: Commander in Chief of the ship. In charge of all functions of the ship. Earned the largest share of all the members (up to 1/8th of all profits), ate the best food, and had his own private quarters (private state room).
Mates: Each mate commanded his own whale boat. Each had their own small cabin in the stern of the ship. Ate meals with the captain in the main cabin.
Harpooners/ Skilled Workers: Skilled workers included: blacksmith, cook, carpenter, steward, and cooper. Had more priveleges than the rest of the ordinary crew. Stayed behind when boats went chasing whales to man the ship. Had bunks in the mid-ship. Ate in the cabin after the captain and mates. Ate the same meals, except for butter and sugar.
Ordinary crew: Routine chores, such as washing the deck, setting sail, steering the ship, tying ropes, or standing watch at night. Earned the least amount of share of the profit (as little as 1/350 of a share). Earned $25 for years of work. Slept in bunks together in the forcastle (bow) of the ship. Ordinary crew ate meals together on the deck of the ship. Essentially the muscle behind running the ship in daily functions.
Often very unpleasant.
Length of the voyage depended on size of the vessel. Smallest whaler ship (schooner) generally had 6 month voyages. While, larger ships might stay at sea for 3-4 years.
Longest voyage was made by the ship, Nile, for 11 years spanning from 1958-1969.
http://www.whalingmuseum.org/learn/research-topics/overview-of-north-american-whaling/life-aboard
Whippings (cat of nine tails) or put in irons.
Caused by disobeying orders or displeasing the captain or officers.
Food selection was based on the crew members standing and rank on the ship.
Rank Structure for food type:
-Captain
-Mates
-Harpooners/Skilled members
-Deck hands
Main Foods:
-Salt Horse
-Beans, rice potatoes, hard biscuits, and molasses.
Dave Brumett & Travis Via
Very rare on whale ships, despite harsh conditions.
However, when there was a mutiny a leader would rose his fellow crewmen to action.
Sometimes caused by rotten food
Boredom.
Socialized in the late afternoon/ early evening.
The crew smoked pipes, conversed with each other (sea stories), read books, and mended clothes.
They often broke into high spirited singing (shanties).
Developed an art form called scrimshaw. It was carving art into whale teeth and bayleen as homecoming presents.
Gams: When whale ships met upon the high seas. Ships would hold a gam, exchange of visits. Could last anywhere from a day to a week.