Please click here for Cheynes Beach Whaling Company Employee Profiles
Below is a brief explanation of the job descriptions listed in the employee profiles.
Duties of Ship Personnel
Skipper
Responsible for the safety of the crew and the boat. Ensure the crew’s knowledge of operating procedures and location of all lifesaving and other equipment prior to getting underway. Assign duties and instruction; ensure proper safe use of domestic equipment (head, stove, etc. The skipper was also the Gunner and had the responsibility of shooting the whale.
First Mate
Assisted in the operation of the ship, with primary responsibility for directing and overseeing the work of the deck crew. The First Mate commands the vessel when the ship’s master is absent or incapacitated.
Second Mate
Performed general deck duties under the supervision of the First Mate and shared general supervision of crew duties.
Chief Engineer
All the technical operations of the ship, including electrical, engineering and mechanical.
First Engineer
Responsible for the day to day operations of the engineering and technical aspects of the ship under the supervision and direction of the First Engineer.
Second Engineer
Responsible for the same duties as the First Engineer, however since he would have lesser experience he would be answerable to the First Engineer.
Fireman (Boiler Attendant)
Fired the boilers prior to the ship steaming out, maintained and monitored the boilers.
Sonar Operator
Operated the sonar to track the whales if they sounded.
Donkeyman
Monitored and maintained all the auxiliary engines.
Able-Seaman
All deck duties on board, splicing ropes, obey skipper, assist in the safe operation of the boat and keep a lookout and immediately report any danger on the water and in the boat.
Duties of Station Personnel
Flenser
Stripped the blubber from the whale and cut it into small enough pieces to fit into the cookers.
Hookman
Used blubber hooks to drag pieces of blubber into the cookers.
Winch Operator
Used the winch to drag and position whale carcasses onto the flensing deck and used the winch on the top deck to drag long strips of blubber and the head up from the flensing deck.
Saw Man
Operated the steam driven head saw to cut pieces from the head of the whale into small enough pieces to fit into the cookers.
Blacksmith
Annealed chains, straightened bent harpoons.
Killer Harpoon Maker
Machined Jarrah wood to make wooden harpoons which could be re-used. (These were used if the first harpoon didn’t kill the whale instantly).
Tow Boat Operator
Towed the whales from the Dolphin Buoy to the flensing deck and attached the winch wire to the whale carcass.
Fireman (Boiler Attendant)
Fired and attended the boilers on the station and on the chasers.
Fisheries Inspector
Measured whales, took samples for the CSIRO, kept records of whales caught.
Oil Filtration
Operated and monitored the oil filtration unit. The finished filtered, refined oil was used for special purposes including cosmetics, fine machinery & watch mechanisms.
Digester Operator
Operated the cookers, monitored the cooking and checked the level of oil after cooking was finished.
Oil Separator
Controlled the oil separator which separated the impurities out of Humpback oil to create pure whale oil.
Production Foreman
Monitored the production and storage of whale oil, whale meal and whale solubles. Manned the radio and monitored the number of whales caught.
Plant Operator
Operated the Soluble Plant machinery for the making of whale solubles.
Cheynes Beach Whaling Company Employees