"Yan Stambouli" wrote in message
...
Probably seal blubber. Rendered seal oil,was the number one source of tar,
to seal seams and generally waterproof ships.

Probably. I wasn't paying attention so much to the words as to the imagery,
then I heard seal's blood and it was too late. ;-)

You have to admire the man, though. Almost dying once before, then having
another go at it, then dying a third try. That's a man of adventure.