An intermediate stop for a ship on its sailing voyage. At these ports a cargo ship may take on supplies or fuel as well as unloading and loading their cargo. Ports of call were used to pick up stores of fresh fruit and vegetables to supplement the diet of the crew. They were also used to make repairs to the ship. Whalers dissatisfied with their lives on the whaling voyage would often desert at ports of call, and the Captain would take on new men to replace those who had deserted, or who had died at sea. Sometimes on a particularly "greasy" or successful voyage, captains would send back stores of oil with other ships that were bound back to the home port. This would make more room in the hold and allow the ship to prolong its time at sea and catch more whales.