On deck of whaler

Z00207

On deck of whaler

 

Crewmen on deck of whaler in bad weather. (Copy from Arctic Whalers, by Basil Lubbock.) The killing of whales was a dangerous and wasteful activity. Crews sailed to Greenland on large specially equipped ships. Each had 5-7 rowing boats on board, which were launched when a whale was sighted. These boats were crewed by 7 men, who caught the whale by throwing a hand harpoon, attached to the bow of the boat with a rope. The harpoon didn't kill the whale, but allowed the whalers to keep in contact with it. Often more than one harpoon was used, and the whale might end up towing 6 or 7 boats behind it. This was very dangerous, especially if the whale dived beneath an iceberg or ice flow The killing was done from close range with long lances, aimed between the ribs, and churned up and down. Once the whale was dead, it was towed back to parent ship, tail first. The baleen and blubber would be removed, and the rest of the carcass dumped back in the sea.

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