Processing the Whale

William H. Tripp Collection T-334 [T-334 Mincing Blubber]
Mincing Blubber
William H. Tripp (1880-1959, American)
2-1/2 x 4-1/4 inch film negative


BIBLE LEAVES
The huge blanket-pieces were cut into progressively smaller sizes before being placed into the hot trypots. Here the crew minces the blubber into “bible leaves,” which were cut almost through but which still remained connected at the skin end, like the pages of an oversize book -- thereby exposing a larger surface area to the heat of the tryworks.
Blanket Piece | Head Case | Mincing Blubber | Bible Leaves | Bailing | Tryworks
© Copyright 2001 Old Dartmouth Historical Society / New Bedford Whaling Museum