Moby-d**k, Sailor's confusion?

Question

In Herman Melville's book Moby-d**k, Capt Ahab refers to the great White Whale as a 'he', and I quote.......

"Captain Ahab," said Tashtego, "that white whale must be the same that some call Moby d**k."

"Moby d**k?" shouted Ahab. "Do ye know the white whale then, Tash?"

"Does HE fan-tail a little curious, sir, before HE goes down?" said the g*y-Header deliberately.

So, why does the sailor in the crows nest shout

'Thar SHE Blows' when the whale breaks surface?

Answer 1

"Thar she blows"  refers to the whale exhaling through his (or her) blow hole. The blowing will look like steam escaping if the weather is frigid, which makes it visible at a longer distance than if the whale just broke the surface without "blowing".

   As for why they use "she" rather than "he" or "it" - i don't know.

Answer 2

"Thar she blows!" Is a generic call made when spotting any whale regardless of its s*x. Its like calling out "Ship on the starboard bow!" even if its only a brig!

Answer 3

Convention, the same reason all ships are shes