This etching by J. Ross Browne was used to illustrate part of his story of a whaling cruise, where he described the scene when meat was put out for the crew, who then rushed and fought to get at it. Browne's experience was aboard a ship with a stingy captain, and not enough food provided to the crew. The story and illustration are found in his 1846 book, Etchings of a Whaling Cruise