"Mocha Dick," the White Whale of the Pacific
10 days ago
- #whaling
- #maritime-history
- #ropemaking
- Jeremiah N. Reynolds published a tale of Mocha Dick, a fierce white whale, in 1839.
- Mocha Dick was known for his size, aggression, and white coloration, resembling wool.
- Herman Melville was influenced by Reynolds' account when writing 'Moby Dick'.
- Whaling ships required vast amounts of rope, with each whaleboat carrying up to 2,000 feet.
- The American whaling fleet in 1846 used prodigious amounts of rope, highlighting its industrial scale.
- Ropemaking evolved in the 18th century with innovations like the register plate and forming tube.
- Hemp became the primary material for rope due to its strong, long fibers.
- The ropemaking process involved twisting fibers into yarns, strands, and finally rope.
- Joseph Huddart invented the register plate to improve rope strength by evenly distributing forces.
- Ropewalks, long narrow buildings, were essential for producing long ropes needed for maritime use.
- The Royal Navy's ropewalks, like the one at Chatham, were over 1,000 feet long.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem 'The Ropewalk' captures the atmosphere of ropemaking.
- Rope was a critical naval store, alongside materials like tar and pitch for shipbuilding.
- British Parliament encouraged colonial production of naval stores to support the Royal Navy.