March 16 Summary and Analysis

The expedition reaches Magdalena Bay, where marine life is abundant. Porpoises are everywhere and sea-turtles appear. Tiny harpoons a sea-turtle, which does not die immediately, but appears to be in pain. He chops off its head, but it moves as though it is still alive. Steinbeck and Ricketts decide to dissect it to learn what they can. They find sea anemones and barnacles living on its shell, and small crabs under its tail. They open its intestinal tract and find it filled with small rock lobsters. The gullet, heart, and muscle tissue are studied. The heart and turtle meat continue to respond to stimuli long after the death of the turtle, much to Tiny's dismay. Here, Steinbeck draws a distinct contrast between Tiny's human reaction to the death of the turtle and the scientists' approach to the experience as an opportunity...