Noble? So they have have regal titles bestowed by kings. Aristocratic whales. Who knew.
It’s a barbaric practice,
You eat cows? That's barbaric too!
which would explain why they allegedly do it for scientific purposes
Sure they do it for scientific purposes, and then they eat it too. Whale meat is a terrible thing to waste.
instead ... using their powdered bones for crackpot Asian medicine.
I agree, but I think you're getting confused with the Chinese as they eat everything that moves.
They should turn the whales only into Felix Gum. Yummy!