The Specksynder

           Concerningtheofficersofthewhale-craft,thisseemsasgoodaplaceasanytosetdownalittledomesticpeculiarityonship-board,arisingfromtheexistenceoftheharpooneerclassofofficers,aclassunknownofcourseinanyothermarinethanthewhale-fleet.

           Thelargeimportanceattachedtotheharpooneer’svocationisevincedbythefact,thatoriginallyintheoldDutchFishery,twocenturiesandmoreago,thecommandofawhale-shipwasnotwhollylodgedinthepersonnowcalledthecaptain,butwasdividedbetweenhimandanofficercalledtheSpecksynder.LiterallythiswordmeansFat-Cutter;usage,however,intimemadeitequivalenttoChiefHarpooneer.Inthosedays,thecaptain’sauthoritywasrestrictedtothenavigationandgeneralmanagementofthevessel;whileoverthewhale-huntingdepartmentandallitsconcerns,theSpecksynderorChiefHarpooneerreignedsupreme.IntheBritishGreenlandFishery,underthecorruptedtitleofSpecksioneer,thisoldDutchofficialisstillretained,buthisformerdignityissadlyabridged.AtpresentherankssimplyasseniorHarpooneer;andassuch,isbutoneofthecaptain’smoreinferiorsubalterns.

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