Moby Dick; Or, The Whale

Coiling the Line

The line is coiled spirally in the tub, forming a round, cheese-shaped mass of densely layered concentric spirals with only a small central tube at the axis. Extremely careful precautions are essential, as any tangle or kink would sever someone’s limb or body when the line runs out. Some harpooneers spend nearly an entire morning stowing the line properly, threading it through blocks high aloft to ensure it is completely free of wrinkles and twists.

English and American Tubs

English whaleboats use two smaller tubs instead of one, continuously coiling the same line through both. This arrangement fits better in the boat without straining it, whereas the American single tub—nearly three feet in diameter—creates bulky freight for boats with only half-inch thick planks. The American tub under its painted canvas cover resembles a wedding cake being presented to the whales.

Lower End Safety

Both ends of the line remain exposed. The lower end terminates in an eye-splice hanging disengaged over the tub’s edge, an arrangement serving two critical purposes: first, to allow easy attachment of additional line from neighboring boats when a whale sounds deeply; second, to prevent the boat from being dragged down into the sea if the whale runs out the line at smoking speed—a disaster that would make the boat irretrievable.

The Line’s Course

Before lowering for the chase, the line’s upper end is routed aft around the loggerhead, then forward along the entire boat, resting crosswise on oar handles so it jogs against each rower’s wrist. The line passes between the men as they alternate sides and is kept in place by wooden pins at the prow chocks. It then hangs in a slight festoon over the bows before being recoiled on the bow box and attached to the short-warp connected to the harpoon, with the path involving numerous details too tedious to enumerate.