1815 J. Laing (1822) 99 The process of paring and barrelling up the blubber, is termed making off.
1846 A. Young at Flensing The blubber..is cut into square pieces and stowed in the hold; afterwards, these are..cut into smaller pieces to be stowed away in casks; this latter process is termed making-off.
1887 G. B. Goode II. 286 Paring and barreling blubber, termed making-off.