This encounter didn't surprise me, because I knew these animals were being hunted so relentlessly that they took refuge in the ocean basins of the high latitudes. 航行在成群的鲸鱼中间一这个遭遇并不使我惊异，因为我知道这些动物受人过度的追击，都躲到两极边缘、高纬度的海水中来

In the maritime world and in the realm of geographic exploration, whales have played a major role.  一鲸鱼类在海上事业方面所起的作用，对于地理上发现的影响是很重大的。

This is the animal that first dragged the Basques in its wake, then Asturian Spaniards, Englishmen, and Dutchmen, emboldening them against the ocean's perils, and leading them to the ends of the earth. Baleen whales like to frequent the southernmost and northernmost seas.  鲸鱼类，首先吸引着已斯克人、其次亚斯豆里人、又其次英国人和荷兰人，追随在它后面，使他们不怕大洋的危险，带领他们从地球这一极端到那一极端。

We were seated on the platform next to a tranquil sea.  我们坐在平台上，海上风平浪静。

The month of March, since it's the equivalent of October in these latitudes, was giving us some fine autumn days.  是的，这些纬度地区正给我们带来美丽的秋天。

It was the Canadian-on this topic he was never mistaken--who sighted a baleen whale on the eastern horizon.  是那个加拿大人—他不能搞错—指出东方天边有一条鲸鱼、注意地看一下，

If you looked carefully, you could see its blackish back alternately rise and fall above the waves, five miles from the Nautilus. 我们看见它的灰黑色的脊背在距离诺第留斯号五海里的海面上，不停地浮起来、沉下去。

Wow! Ned Land exclaimed. If I were on board a whaler, there's an encounter that would be great fun!  “啊！尼德·兰喊道：如果我是在一般捕鲸船上，现在慨是使我痛快的一次遭遇！

That's one big animal!  那是一条身躯巨大的鲸鱼！

Look how high its blowholes are spouting all that air and steam!  请看它的鼻孔有多大的气力，喷出了混有气体的水柱！

Damnation! Why am I chained to this hunk of sheet iron! 真可恨！我为什么被绑在这块钢板上呢！