In March 1980, Massachusetts adopted the Right Whale as its state mammal. But how did the Right Whale get its name in the first place?

As explained in National Geographic: "Right whales were named by whalers who identified them as the 'right' whale to kill on a hunt. These leviathans had enormous value for their plentiful oil and baleen, which were used for corsets, buggy whips, and other contrivances. Because of their thick blubber, right whales also float accommodatingly after they have been killed."

Asked by Tom Cohen · Last updated 5 years ago · 749 views