If you lived in New England in the mid-to-late 19th century, chances are the flames lighting your home, just like the ones guiding ships back to shore, were powered by whale oil.
He goes and hunts for his oil, so as to be sure of its freshness and genuineness, even as the traveller on the prairie hunts up his own supper of game.
But the final argument, which settled the question, was a happy reference of mine to the train-oil and tallow candles which the Esquimaux not only enjoy but digest.
And, while history doesn't tend to look particularly kindly on whaling, the discovery of the Antarctic landmass was, in some respects, down to increased demand for whale oil and seal fur.
In another chapter, Ishmael sings the process of decanting whale oil in epic style, as the ship pitches and rolls in the midnight sea and the casks rumble like landslides.