The Try-Works

           Besidesherhoistedboats,anAmericanwhalerisoutwardlydistinguishedbyhertry-works.Shepresentsthecuriousanomalyofthemostsolidmasonryjoiningwithoakandhempinconstitutingthecompletedship.Itisasiffromtheopenfieldabrick-kilnweretransportedtoherplanks.

           Thetry-worksareplantedbetweentheforemastandmainmast,themostroomypartofthedeck.Thetimbersbeneathareofapeculiarstrength,fittedtosustaintheweightofanalmostsolidmassofbrickandmortar,sometenfeetbyeightsquare,andfiveinheight.Thefoundationdoesnotpenetratethedeck,butthemasonryisfirmlysecuredtothesurfacebyponderouskneesofironbracingitonallsides,andscrewingitdowntothetimbers.Ontheflanksitiscasedwithwood,andattopcompletelycoveredbyalarge,sloping,battenedhatchway.Removingthishatchweexposethegreattry-pots,twoinnumber,andeachofseveralbarrels’capacity.Whennotinuse,theyarekeptremarkablyclean.Sometimestheyarepolishedwithsoapstoneandsand,tilltheyshinewithinlikesilverpunchbowls.Duringthenight-watchessomecynicaloldsailorswillcrawlintothemandcoilthemselvesawaythereforanap.Whileemployedinpolishingthemonemanineachpot,sidebysidemanyconfidentialcommunicationsarecarriedon,overtheironlips.Itisaplacealsoforprofoundmathematicalmeditation.

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