The life, however, could give change, excitement, the chance of profit, and long intervals of comparative freedom.

To share these, seamen deserted their vessels, and free Australians--nicknamed currency lads--would ship at Sydney for New Zealand.

Ex-convicts, of course, swelled their ranks, and were not always and altogether bad, despite the convict system.

The discipline in the boats was as strict as on a man-of-war.
On shore, when "trying down" the blubber, the men had to work long and hard.

"Sunday don't come into this bay!" was the gruff answer once given to a traveller who asked whether the Sabbath was kept.