Laying
the plan.
The area of the deck that was used for flensing
whales brought aboard the factory or mother ship was overlaid
before processing began with a further softwood (pine) deck that
was sometimes known as the "Plan". This deck was laid as
the ship was on it's way to Antarctic waters as one of the jobs to
occupy the crew during the voyage. It's purpose was to provide a
temporary throw-away surface upon which whales were processed. The
temporary surface would take the damage and also absorb most of
the blood, oil and smell that is a consequence of the butchering
of such huge animals.
On the way back home after the whaling voyage
was over with the whale oil products stowed away safely, the plan
would be symbolically ripped up by the ships crew and cast
overboard as a part of a cleansing ritual that has taken place on
whaling ships since the earliest recorded times of Phoenician
whalers.
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