Moby Dick; Or, The Whale

Sperm Whale Head Internal Structure

The chapter opens with a discussion of the “Baling of the Case,” which requires understanding the intricate internal structure of the sperm whale’s head before proceeding. This sets the stage for examining how the whale’s head is anatomically organized to house its most valuable resources.

Sperm Whale Head Quoin Division

The sperm whale’s head can be conceptualized as a solid oblong shape. When divided on an inclined plane sideways, the head separates into two distinct quoins—geometric shapes that are essential to understanding its internal anatomy. The lower quoin consists of bony structure forming the cranium and jaws, while the upper quoin comprises an unctuous mass entirely free from bones, with its broad forward end creating the expanded vertical forehead of the whale. At the middle of the forehead, this upper quoin can be further subdivided horizontally into two nearly equal parts.

Quoin Term Definition

A footnote explains that “quoin” is not a Euclidean geometric term but belongs to the domain of pure nautical mathematics. This term had not been previously defined in literature. Melville clarifies that a quoin differs from a wedge in that its sharp end is created by the steep inclination of one side, rather than through the mutual tapering of both sides as found in a wedge.

Junk and Case Subdivisions

When the upper quoin is subdivided horizontally, it creates two distinct parts separated by an internal wall of thick tendinous substance. The lower subdivided portion is called the “junk” and consists of an immense honeycomb of oil, formed by the crossing and recrossing of tough elastic white fibres into ten thousand infiltrated cells throughout its entire extent. The upper part is known as the “Case.”