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.
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