Final answer:
In Chapter 67, Starbuck and Stubb remove the layer of fat from a whale, which is referred to as blubber, essential for insulation and energy storage in marine mammals.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Chapter 67 ," Starbuck and Stubb, the second mate, engage in the process of stripping blubber from a whale. Blubber refers to the thick layer of fat beneath the skin of whales, essential for insulation and buoyancy. This laborious task, known as "cutting in," involves removing the blubber for processing into oil aboard the whaling ship.
Melville vividly describes the physical and arduous nature of this process, providing readers with insights into the challenging and gritty aspects of 19th-century whaling practices while emphasizing the economic importance of extracting valuable resources from the whales encountered on the voyage.