Lee Metcalf: “recently one of the television networks presented a new production of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. As we all know, this…”

“recently one of the television networks presented a new production of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. As we all know, this is a drama about a whale hunt in the 18th century. In this drama, Melville gives a detailed and gory account of a whale hunt. Now, two centuries later, whaling has become one of the things that just is not done anymore. Because the world's whaling ships hunted whales almost to extinction 100 years ago, whales occupy a special place in our conscience. Protecting whales has become one of our civilization's most noble undertakings. But the struggling to protect these special animals is not over yet. I regret that it is in my State, the State of Washington, that an Indian tribe has announced its intention to hunt whales again. The Makah tribe, backed by the U.S. Government, is preparing to repudiate rulings of the International Whaling Commission and kill four California gray whales each year. Furthermore, it is evident that the tribe, with the backing of the United States Government, is willing to set a trend which will lead to a resurgence of whaling around the world. And here is the reason: If they are allowed this hunt, 13 bands and tribes of Indians in British Columbia say that they will also begin to hunt whales. Earlier this month, the Makahs met with other aborigines around the world to talk about whale hunting. They attempted to keep the meeting quiet by staging the meeting in Canada and avoiding the press.”