VIII 



WHALES AS THE WHALERS KNEW 

 THEM 



Oh, the rare old whale, 'mid storm and gale, 



In his ocean home will be, 

 A giant in might where might is right, 



And king of the boundless sea. 



Whale song quoted in Moby Dick. 



WHEN Owen Chase, mate of the Nan- 

 tucket whale ship Essex that was sunk 

 by a whale in 1820, finally reached 

 home and related his experiences, he had this to 

 say about the whale that attacked the ship: 



"Every fact seemed to warrant me in con- 

 cluding that it was anything but chance which 

 directed his operations; he made two attacks 

 upon the ship at short interval between them, 

 both of which, according to their direction, were 

 calculated to do us the most injury, by being 

 made ahead and thereby combining the speed 

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