A brief history of whaling – Whaler's Memory Bank

Prehistoric engravings on rock known as the Bangudae Petroglyphs showing representations of cetaceans with hunting and fishing tools and techniques. The Bangudae site in Ulsan, South Korea has the most ancient evidence of whaling worldwide. *Source: Shutterstock*

Hunted through history

Humans have been hunting whales for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that primitive whaling in the North Atlantic and North Pacific can be traced as far back as 3000BCE. Early whaling communities relied on whales for providing vital resources such as food, oil for lamps, and baleen for making tools. Using simple harpoons, they hunted small, coastal whales such as the North Atlantic Right Whale.

Right whales are slow moving and easily caught. Their bodies would float on the sea after death and could be easily towed back to shore for stripping of the blubber and removal of the baleen. The European Basques pioneered early commercial whaling in the medieval period, targeting the Right Whale in the Bay of Biscay for their blubber and baleen.

Northern Whale Fishery, engraved by E. Duncan, 1829 (colour aquatint) by Huggins, William John (1781-1845) *Source: Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, USA*

By the 18th century, whaling had transformed into a global enterprise. Nations such as Britain and America dominated the trade, developing specialized whaling ships designed for long-distance expeditions. These vessels, some capable of months or years at sea, focused on species like Sperm Whale. Sperm whales were highly valued for their oil and spermaceti, used in candles and industrial lubricants. Techniques remained labour-intensive, with crews relying on hand-thrown harpoons and small whaling boats.

Although the Right Whale were on the verge of extinction, neither Britain nor America could catch the vast stocks of rorqual or baleen whales, the Blue, Humpback, Fin, and Sei whales. With top speeds of 30–50 km (20–30 miles) per hour, these species were too fast and too heavy for the wooden sailing ships of the time.

What parts of the whales were used?

In the 18th Century, whale oil from the blubber (the fatty outer layer of skin), was used to power lamps and lubricated machinery. Baleen plates were also extracted and sold to make umbrellas, corsets and hats, vital for the fashion industry at the time.

How was whale oil measured?

Whale oil was transported in wooden barrels. 1 barrel of oil = 170 litres (35 gallons). 1 ton of oil = 6 barrels. The average output of oil from a whale was 60 barrels.

Svend Foyn's grenade harpoon of 1870. From Den Moderne Hvalfangsts Historie, Vol. 1, Oslo 1959. *Source: www.kyst-norge.no*

Technical innovations

The 19th century saw dramatic technological advancements that revolutionized the whaling industry. A Norwegian, Svend Foyn, brought whaling into the modern age with the design of the exploding harpoon gun.

Foyn’s development of steam-powered catcher boats further boosted efficiency, enabling vessels to pursue whales across vast distances and travel at greater speeds. It was now possible to catch larger and faster species, including Blue and Fin whales, previously beyond the reach of traditional methods. Foyn’s success led to the establishment of permanent shore stations in Norway, Scotland, and Newfoundland.

These innovations revolutionised the industry, marking the beginning of industrial-scale whaling by significantly increased catch numbers. The stage was set for the large-scale exploitation of whale populations in the northern hemisphere.

Model of the DS Spes & Fides, the first modern whale catcher, designed by Svend Foyn. Source: Hvalfangstmuseet, Sandefjord

Grytviken in the 1920s. *Source: Thomas Binnie*

The rise of Antarctic whaling

The introduction of new technology, including steam-powered ships and exploding harpoon guns, resulted in a surge in the whaling industry, with Britain and Norway dominating. While whale oil had initially been used for lighting, the discovery of petroleum in the mid-19th century led to a decline in its use for this purpose. However, new markets for whale oil emerged, particularly in the production of soap and edible oil and fats.

By the early 20th century, northern whale populations were severely depleted, prompting whalers to explore the Antarctic. The Southern Ocean, rich with large species like Blue and Fin whales, became the new epicenter of whaling activity. The first permanent Antarctic whaling station, Grytviken, was established on South Georgia in 1904, marking the beginning of large-scale operations in the region. Small whales catcher vessels were based at the shore station on South Georgia, travelling out to sea on a daily basis in the search for whales. The whales would be brought ashore to be processed in the factory to harvest the whale oil. New technologies and the healthy stocks of whales opened up a new era – modern industrial whaling.

The factory ship *Southern Venturer*. *Source: Frederick John Haines Mackereth*

As the demand for whale oil continued the modern whale factory ship was developed, a highly efficient piece of industrial engineering. The floating factory ships enabled whalers to process their catch directly at sea and extend their reach into previously inaccessible areas. Whaling was no longer restricted to land-based stations.

Additional advancements, such as aerial spotting and improved radio communication, allowed whalers to locate and track whales more effectively. While these technologies increased profits, they also accelerated overfishing, pushing several whale species toward extinction. The industry rapidly expanded, and by the 1920s, annual catches increased dramatically, driven by the increasing demand for whale oil in various products.

Starting just before World War I, the gradual shift to floating factories was to be the most significant development in the history of whaling. Floating factories steamed further south into previously unreachable waters, servicing their whale catchers, processing whales, and transferring oil and meat to tankers and cargo vessels (which also brought fuel) for timely shipment to market. The number of whale catchers per factory ship rose from four to eight during the 1930s, and ships became much faster.

After World War II, huge, purpose build factory ships were constructed as whale oil and flesh were increasingly important to supplement fat and meat rations to the European population.