What Do We Know About Whaling?

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Most of us know that the Blue Whale is the largest animal on Earth, weighing up to 181 tons. In the nineteenth century, whaling, the KILLING of whales, was a MAJOR industry. At one time, there were over 700 American whaling ships, that killed more than 10,000 whales per year. Can you imagine that? Some ships sailed on voyages that lasted for several years, taking them around the world. Men, who were “lookouts” on these ships watched for whales to surface to breathe and then the whalers chased the whale and harpooned it. Sometimes the harpooned whale would pull the boat for hours across the ocean, until it got tired. What were the byproducts that were gleaned from the whales? Blubber, or fat, was boiled down to produce whale oil, used to fuel lamps. Baleen, which was thin plates of bone from the Baleen whale’s mouth were used to make corset stays. Sperm whales gave oil that was used to lubricate fine instruments and waxy ambergris was used to make perfume. Modern whalers used helicopters and harpoon guns, bringing some species of whales close to extinction! Whales now are protected and corsets are no longer worn by women. Oil for lamps is no longer needed either.