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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
maritime museums for use in exhibits and teaching programs. The two pilot whales (adults average about 1800 pounds) rendered in the demonstration yielded about eight gallons of oil. Approximately 100 people attended the demonstration and enjoyed it for its own sake, as well as for the information and humor it generated. Albert Cook Church, in his book "Whale Ships and Whaling", describes the traditional trying out process as follows (p. 36): Trying out proceeds without cessation day and night, half the crew working while the other watch is below. At night the ship presents a highly picturesque scene, the flames darting high above the tryworks, revealing spars and rigging in an uncanny glare. The crew, slipping and sliding about the deck, appear like demons capering about an incantation fire. However, with this picture the romance departs, for everything is drenched with oil that washes about, ankle deep, and the odor of burning scraps is beyond description. Smoke from the tryworks fires is choking in density, rigging and spars blackened, and reek with greasy soot from which there is not refuge. The Kendall Museum trying out was much more civilized. The pro cess took about five hours, flames were not allowed to mount above the tryworks, any spill oil was promptly covered with dirt, and all oil was carefully saved. The trying out crew were neatly (although somewhat oddly) dressed, but I think they needed showers and washing machines that night before their families welcomed them home. The smoke was more grey than black, and a fine cooperative wind blew it away from crew and spectators toward a unpopulated area. The stench, however, was entirely traditional.
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