To correct the historical reference a bit. The Nantucket whaleship Essex was stove in by a sperm whale in NOvember 1820 in the central Pacific Ocean. A few of the crew survived a horrible ordeal that included canabalism and were rescued some months later. ONe of the survivors wrote a first hand account that provided information to Melville. An excellent recent book retelling the story is: In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. Also go here for Discovery account with some maps and pictures.

http://www.discovery.com/stories/history/whaleattack/whaleattack.html

rich r