{"id":"01KG8AM6RFYQS0XK2E93V0T0JP","cid":"bafkreicg5z52pshutapgj5j4o5cbz4753fyrqhdz57rcufge7uzjbsl6cq","type":"section","properties":{"description":"# BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)\n## Overview\nThis is a section from the chapter [BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)](arke:01KG8AK83BA227D6NY5BT040FM) within a larger work. It is extracted from the text file [moby_dick.txt](arke:01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6) and is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. This section covers lines 6007-6055 of the source file.\n\n## Context\nThe section is part of a chapter that is contained within a novel. The text file [moby_dick.txt](arke:01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6) is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The next section in the chapter is [CHAPTER 33. The Specksnyder.](arke:01KG8AM6RFSC0Y2KVF4DZZ0THQ).\n\n## Contents\nThis section describes a specific type of porpoise, the \"Mealy-mouthed Porpoise,\" which is classified as \"Duodecimo\" in size. It details its physical characteristics, such as its lack of a dorsal fin, its tail, hazel eyes, and distinctive black and white coloration around its mouth. The text also discusses other uncertain and \"half-fabulous\" whales known by whalemen, listing appellations like \"Bottle-Nose Whale,\" \"Junk Whale,\" and \"Pudding-Headed Whale.\" The section concludes with a reflection on the unfinished nature of the cetological system being presented, comparing it to the unfinished Cathedral of Cologne.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:50:57.762Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)","end_line":6055,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:29.272Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)","source_file":"01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6","start_line":6007,"text":"BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_).—The\r\nlargest kind of Porpoise; and only found in the Pacific, so far as it\r\nis known. The only English name, by which he has hitherto been\r\ndesignated, is that of the fishers—Right-Whale Porpoise, from the\r\ncircumstance that he is chiefly found in the vicinity of that Folio. In\r\nshape, he differs in some degree from the Huzza Porpoise, being of a\r\nless rotund and jolly girth; indeed, he is of quite a neat and\r\ngentleman-like figure. He has no fins on his back (most other porpoises\r\nhave), he has a lovely tail, and sentimental Indian eyes of a hazel\r\nhue. But his mealy-mouth spoils all. Though his entire back down to his\r\nside fins is of a deep sable, yet a boundary line, distinct as the mark\r\nin a ship’s hull, called the “bright waist,” that line streaks him from\r\nstem to stern, with two separate colours, black above and white below.\r\nThe white comprises part of his head, and the whole of his mouth, which\r\nmakes him look as if he had just escaped from a felonious visit to a\r\nmeal-bag. A most mean and mealy aspect! His oil is much like that of\r\nthe common porpoise.\r\n\r\n  * * * * * *\r\n\r\nBeyond the DUODECIMO, this system does not proceed, inasmuch as the\r\nPorpoise is the smallest of the whales. Above, you have all the\r\nLeviathans of note. But there are a rabble of uncertain, fugitive,\r\nhalf-fabulous whales, which, as an American whaleman, I know by\r\nreputation, but not personally. I shall enumerate them by their\r\nfore-castle appellations; for possibly such a list may be valuable to\r\nfuture investigators, who may complete what I have here but begun. If\r\nany of the following whales, shall hereafter be caught and marked, then\r\nhe can readily be incorporated into this System, according to his\r\nFolio, Octavo, or Duodecimo magnitude:—The Bottle-Nose Whale; the Junk\r\nWhale; the Pudding-Headed Whale; the Cape Whale; the Leading Whale; the\r\nCannon Whale; the Scragg Whale; the Coppered Whale; the Elephant Whale;\r\nthe Iceberg Whale; the Quog Whale; the Blue Whale; etc. From Icelandic,\r\nDutch, and old English authorities, there might be quoted other lists\r\nof uncertain whales, blessed with all manner of uncouth names. But I\r\nomit them as altogether obsolete; and can hardly help suspecting them\r\nfor mere sounds, full of Leviathanism, but signifying nothing.\r\n\r\nFinally: It was stated at the outset, that this system would not be\r\nhere, and at once, perfected. You cannot but plainly see that I have\r\nkept my word. But I now leave my cetological System standing thus\r\nunfinished, even as the great Cathedral of Cologne was left, with the\r\ncrane still standing upon the top of the uncompleted tower. For small\r\nerections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones, true\r\nones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever\r\ncompleting anything. This whole book is but a draught—nay, but the\r\ndraught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!\r\n\r\n\r","title":"BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AK83BA227D6NY5BT040FM","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM6RFSC0Y2KVF4DZZ0THQ","peer_type":"section","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:29.455Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:50:58.051Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}