The pursuit of whales and the pursuit of whalemen : Mob-Dick meets Animal Planet

Terrific description in "Moby-Dick" of the swarm of whales (the Armada, Melville calls it) and how the whaleboats plunge in among the herd and the whalemen risk their lives in the frenzy, killing as many as they can and injuring others in hopes that they can come back for these later. Also Melville explains how the mark a dead whale, called waifing, with a stick or pole so that other whalemen will know that the whale is claimed. Melville explains the simple law of the sea and the distinction between a fast fish (dead or claimed by waifing, but must be brought on board in a reasonable time) and a loose fish - and he wonders which people are, and notes that readers are both, how true. Interesting to me how in all my reading of Moby-Dick I lose sight of what this quest (and industry) is all about, which is killing fish/whales. M had TV on last night watching Animal Planet documentary about the brave environmentalists trying to obstruct the enormous Japanese factory ships, risking their lives in the process for sure, and strange to note how the whale fishery has reversed: whaling much less dangerous than in the 19th century, but pursuit of the whalers is very dangerous. So easy to lose perspective and celebrate to glory of the whalemen, when in fact it's a sad and brutal occupation, much more so today when there is absolutely no need for it. As for me, I am both a fast and loose fish, too, and about to break lose and put aside Moby-Dick for a few days as I take on some other reading, but I will come back to Melville's world, with pleasure and anticipation and a sense of the uncanny.