Measurement of the Royal Whale Skeleton
Ishmael explored the skeleton with a ball of Arsacidean twine, wandering through its colonnades and arbours. When he began measuring the skeleton with a green rod, taking the altitude of the final rib, the priests challenged him, crying “Dar’st thou measure this our god!” A fierce contest arose among the priests concerning feet and inches, during which Ishmael quickly concluded his own admeasurements.
Existing Whale Skeleton Collections
Ishmael notes that his measurements can be verified against skeleton authorities. In Hull, England, the Leviathanic Museum contains fine specimens of fin-backs and other whales. The museum in Manchester, New Hampshire claims to have “the only perfect specimen of a Greenland or River Whale in the United States.” At Burton Constable in Yorkshire, Sir Clifford Constable possesses a skeleton of a Sperm Whale, though of moderate size compared to King Tranquo’s. Sir Clifford’s whale has been articulated so visitors can open its bony cavities, spread its ribs like a fan, and swing upon its lower jaw, with locks on trap-doors and keys for visitors.
Tattooed Whale Skeleton Dimensions
Ishmael records his skeleton measurements as tattooed on his right arm, the only secure way to preserve such valuable statistics during his wild wanderings. Due to limited space and his wish to keep other body parts blank for a poem he was composing, he did not include odd inches, nor does he believe inches should enter into a congenial admeasurement of the whale.
KAPITEL 103. Measurement of The Whale’s Skeleton.
This chapter focuses on measuring and exhibiting the sperm whale’s skeleton, opening with context on the whale’s living bulk, calculated weight, and scale relative to human populations to frame the size of the specimen whose bones are detailed below.
Statement on the Leviathan’s Bulk
The narrator opens with a plain, straightforward statement about the living bulk of the leviathan (sperm whale) whose skeleton is to be exhibited, noting the statement will provide useful context for the discussion to follow.
Calculation of Whale’s Weight
The narrator shares a careful weight calculation for the largest sperm whales, partially based on Captain Scoresby’s estimate of 70 tons for a 60-foot Greenland whale. He concludes an 85–90 foot sperm whale with a maximum circumference of just under 40 feet weighs at least 90 tons, equal to the weight of 13 men per ton.
Comparison to Village Population
Based on the weight calculation, the narrator notes the whale would considerably outweigh the combined population of a 1,100-person village, prompting a rhetorical question about whether even the combined effort of yoked cattle could help a landsman imagine the whale’s full scale.
Previously Exhibited Parts
The narrator notes he has already presented the whale’s skull, spout-hole, jaw, teeth, tail, forehead, fins, and other individual parts in prior sections, so this chapter will focus on the general bulk of the whale’s unobstructed bones, while asking readers to keep the previously discussed skull in mind to grasp the full skeleton structure.
Focus on Unobstructed Bones
The narrator explains he will highlight the most interesting features of the whale’s unobstructed bones, and reminds readers not to forget the previously covered skull, as it makes up a very large, complex portion of the full skeleton that will not be repeated in this chapter.
Tranque Skeleton Measurements
The narrator shares measurements of a sperm whale skeleton on display at Tranque: the full skeleton is 72 feet long, and since whale skeletons are roughly one-fifth shorter than the living animal, the full living whale measured approximately 90 feet. Of the 72-foot skeleton, the skull and jaw make up roughly 20 feet, leaving 50 feet of plain backbone.
Skull and Backbone Breakdown
The breakdown of the Tranque skeleton’s core structure is outlined: 20 feet of the 72-foot total length is the skull and jaw, leaving 50 feet of plain backbone, with a circular basket of ribs attached to just under one-third of the backbone’s length that once enclosed the whale’s internal organs.
The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.