While in the vicinity of the Sunda straits, the Pequod is pursued by Malaysian pirates but manages to outrun them. Later, the ship comes across a massive group of whales, who become agitated and swim erratically during the pursuit. Queequeg harpoons one of the whales, but the blow is not fatal, and the whale drags the boat to a peaceful patch of ocean where cows and their calves swim and play. The rowers interact affectionately with the animals, watching as, beneath the surface, the cows nurse their offspring.

The whalers employ a method known as drugging to control the agitated whales and make it easier to catch them later. When a drugged whale thrashes around, it disturbs the peaceful waters and causes other whales to surround the boat. In the confusion, Queequeg's hat is lost. Despite the chaos, the crew only catches a single whale. 

Occasionally, whalers encounter massive groups of whales like the one described, but it is far more common to come across smaller groups of twenty-five to fifty whales known as pods. These pods are typically made up entirely of either male or female whales. When it is a female pod, a mature male whale will more often than not lead the pod.

Several weeks following the sighting of the massive whale pod, the Pequod comes across the Rose-Bud. Positioned beside the ship is a deceased whale on one side that has perished naturally and is in varying stages of decomposition. On the other side is a whale that has dried out and expired due to some form of digestive ailment.

Stubb reluctantly boards the Rose-Bud—which stinks horribly of rot and decomposition, pinching his nose the entire time. After struggling to translate his questions to the French sailors, he finds out that they have no information about Moby Dick. The chief mate asks for Stubb's assistance, hoping that he might be able to persuade the captain to release the foul-smelling whale carcasses. While Stubb insults the captain in English the chief mate lies, telling the captain that Stubbs told him that keeping these decomposing whales could bring about sickness and mortality on their vessel. As a result, the captain instructs them to release the whales.

Stubb is aware that the dehydrated whale holds valuable ambergris—a yellow, waxy material with a unique scent often used in fragrance making. Stubb and his crew successfully collect a few handfuls of the substance but are stopped when Ahab summons them onto the ship.