In length, the common
sperm whale-line measures something over two hundred fathoms.
Towards the stern of the boat it is spirally coiled away in the tub,
not like the worm-pipe of a still though, but so as to form one round,
cheese-shaped mass of densely bedded "sheaves," or layers of
concentric spiralizations, without any hollow but the "heart,"
or minute vertical tube formed at the axis of the cheese.
As the least tangle or kink in the coiling would, in running out,
infallibly take somebody's arm, leg, or entire body off,
the utmost precaution is used in stowing the line in its tub.
Some harpooneers will consume almost an entire morning in this business,
carrying the line high aloft and then reeving it downwards through
a block towards the tub, so as in the act of coiling to free it
from all possible wrinkles and twists.
In the English boats two tubs are used instead of one;
the same line being continuously coiled in both tubs.
There is some advantage in this; because these twin-tubs
being so small they fit more readily into the boat,
and do not strain it so much; whereas, the American tub,
nearly three feet in diameter and of proportionate depth,
makes a rather bulky freight for a craft whose planks are but
one-half inch in thickness; for the bottom of the whale-boat
is like critical ice, which will bear up a considerable
distributed weight, but not very much of a concentrated one.
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