How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
In 1837 [...] 6,767 sperm whales were taken by American whalemen. (As a disturbing point of comparison, in 1964, the peak year of modern whaling, 19,255 sperm whales were killed.) (14.60)
This is a real eye-opener. After reading the book, we completely expected the whaling industry to have died out soon after the Essex disaster. On the contrary: the whaling industry has only grown in the hundred-some years since that fateful trip. What gives?