RECRUITING ON THE BEACH
Disillusioned by hard work, indifferent food, and miserable conditions of living in general, men were constantly deserting the whaleships, especially in the South Seas—where the islands presented a seemingly idyllic existence to the hard driven sailor man.
Whaling captains did their best to repair these losses by recruiting among the beachcombers and deserters from other ships, but the inducements held out were no different to those with which they were only too well acquainted, and met with little success, except in cases where idleness and monotony gave way to a desire to get home again.
Many of these runaways, however, were so steeped in the soft living in the islands that they deserted again at the first opportunity.
A “GAM”
The tedium of a protracted whale hunt and association with the same companions for months on end was relieved when two ships met at sea. If they hailed from the same port so much the better.
The sails were laid aback, and the captains, mates, and crews exchanged visits. Old friends met, and letters passed—along with newspapers and home gossip. Work ceased—the cook threw a few more raisins in the plum duff—and a general holiday was declared.
A gam might last a day or a week, and if whales appeared there was friendly competition between the boats of one ship and the other, the oil taken during this period of “mating” being shared equally.
