Inquisitive, Reflective, With A Hint Of Defiance Against Ancient Myths And Opinions Regarding The Subject Of Whale Size And Their Potential For Extinction.

Ishmael reflects on whether the size of whales has diminished over time, dismissing ancient accounts of their larger size. He questions if modern whaling could lead to the extinction of whales but argues against it by comparing their vast habitats and long lifespans to the rapidly hunted buffalo.

In this chapter, Ishmael contemplates the historical accounts of whales and wonders if their sizes have reduced over time. First, he disputes the notion that whales have decreased in size by referring to fossil records and the measurements of modern whales. He then refutes ancient claims about gigantic whales from authors like Pliny and Lacépède, asserting contemporary whales are as sizeable as their historical counterparts. Ishmael speculates on the extinction of whales due to the relentless hunting and compares it to the extermination of buffalo in America. However, he argues that the nature of whale hunting and the expanse of their habitat make the extinction of whales unlikely. Ishmael believes that whales can retreat to polar regions to escape hunting and suggests that their population is not as severely threatened as some may think due to their long lifespans and the wide expanse of oceans they inhabit.