ABSTRACT
During the heyday of whaling ships in the nineteenth century, giant wooden casks were used to carry water, juices, and other food products for the crew, and to store and transport the whale oil harvested at sea. Casks consist of a series of wooden staves that are heat warped to create a center bilge. The staves are bound tightly together by a series of metal hoops. The tops and bottoms of the casks are called headings. Craftsmen that make casks are called coopers, and their place of business and products are known as cooperages.
