"which I may be perhaps the only person round here ever to have actually read it right thru."

So untrue. But perhaps I'm the only one here also to have seen all movie versions since John Barrymore in "The Sea Beast."

In that version, Ahab commands the "Shanghai Lady" and, after a terrible whaling cruise, returns to Nantucket and gets the girl.

Best line, from girl's skeptical father:

"What does he know of love? All he knows is hate - for a stupid fish!"