The breast-hooks, as well as all the ribs, were of this wood, and were steamed and bent into shape as required.

It was hard upon March when I began work in earnest; the weather was cold; still, there were plenty of inspectors to back me with advice.

When a whaling-captain hove in sight I just rested on my adz awhile and "gammed" with him.
New Bedford, the home of whaling-captains, is connected with Fairhaven by a bridge, and the walking is good.

They never "worked along up" to the shipyard too often for me.

It was the charming tales about arctic whaling that inspired me to put a double set of breast-hooks in the _Spray_, that she might shunt ice.
The seasons came quickly while I worked.