Definition of Gam
The word “Gam” appears in no dictionaries – Dr. Johnson never knew it, and Noah Webster’s ark does not hold it – yet it has been in constant use among approximately fifteen thousand American whalers for many years. Melville provides a formal definition: a social meeting of two or more whaleships, generally on a cruising-ground, during which the vessels exchange hails, then exchange visits by boat crews, with the two captains remaining aboard one ship while the two chief mates remain aboard the other.
Gamming Protocol
When two whalers meet in decent weather, they arrange a gam – a practice utterly unknown to other ships, which would only mock the term if they heard it. The complete process involves both vessels coming alongside, exchanging formal salutations, then sending boat crews to visit the other ship. The captains from both vessels meet on one ship while the chief mates gather on the other, allowing for extended social interaction and the exchange of news, letters, and whaling intelligence.
Whale-boat Design
The design of the whale-boat differs markedly from boats used on pirate, man-of-war, or slave ships. While other vessels provide captains with comfortable, sometimes cushioned seats in the stern sheets and allow them to steer with decorated tillers, the whale-boat has no rear seat whatsoever and admits no tiller. This stark simplicity reflects the practical and unostentatious nature of whalemen, who would find it undignified to be wheeled about the water like gouty aldermen in patent chairs.
Captain’s Standing Dignity
In the whale-boat, when a gam is arranged, the captain must stand during the entire trip to the visiting vessel. He has no place to sit and must be “pulled off to his visit all standing like a pine tree.” Convinced of the eyes of the whole visible world resting upon him from both ships, the standing captain is acutely aware of the need to sustain his dignity by maintaining his balance and composure. This proves no easy task given the boat’s motion and his precarious position.
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