Naturalists Classify Giant Squid as Cuttlefish
By some naturalists who have vaguely heard rumors of the mysterious creature, it is included among the class of cuttle-fish. To which, indeed, in certain external respects it would seem to belong—but only as the Anak (giant) of the tribe.
第六十章 The Line.
The chapter introduces the whale-line as a magical and sometimes horrible element of the whaling scene, emphasizing its importance for understanding similar scenes throughout the work.
The Whale-Line
Originally, whale-lines were made from the best hemp, slightly treated with tar vapor rather than fully impregnated with it. Melville explains that while tar makes ordinary ropes more pliable and convenient for common ship use, it would make whale-lines too stiff for the required close coiling, and tar actually reduces rather than enhances the rope’s durability and strength.
Hemp and Tar
The tar treatment of whale-line differs from standard rope-making because the ordinary quantity of tar would overly stiffen the line. Furthermore, tar in general does not add to the rope’s durability or strength, despite giving it compactness and gloss.
Manilla Rope
In recent years, Manilla rope has almost entirely replaced hemp for whale-lines in American fisheries. While less durable than hemp, Manilla is stronger and far more soft and elastic. Melville notes an aesthetic dimension, describing Manilla as “a golden-haired Circassian to behold” compared to hemp’s dark, Indian appearance.
Line Specifications
The whale-line measures only two-thirds of an inch in thickness but possesses remarkable strength. Its 51 yarns can each suspend 120 pounds, giving the entire rope a capacity of nearly three tons. The line typically extends over 200 fathoms in length for sperm whale fishing.
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