carve the bone into the similitude of a rope, with "worming" of
smaller line along its lays. A handle is carved out of a whale's
tooth, and insets of baleen, silver, cocoa-tree, or ebony, give
variety and finish. The tools used are of the roughest. Some
old files, softened in the fire, and filed into grooves something
like saw-teeth, are most used; but old knives, sail-needles, and
chisels are pressed into service. The work turned out would, in
many cases, take a very high place in an exhibition of turnery,
though never a lathe was near it. Of course, a long time is
taken over it, especially the polishing, which is done with oil
and whiting, if it can be got--powdered pumice if it cannot. I
once had an elaborate pastry-cutter carved out of six whale's
teeth, which I purchased for a pound of tobacco from a seaman of
the CORAL whaler, and afterwards sold in Dunedin, New Zealand,
for L2 10s., the purchaser being decidedly of opinion that he had
a bargain.


*


CHAPTER IX

OUR FIRST CALLING-PLACE

Perhaps it may hastily be assumed, from the large space already
devoted to fishing operations of various kinds, that the subject
will not bear much more dealing with, if my story is to avoid
being monotonous. But I beg to assure you, dear reader, that
while of course I have most to say in connection with the