Britain and whaling

For centuries, whales have been viewed as valuable commodities, with nearly every part of the animal used.

Archaeological evidence reveals that whale products were utilized for various purposes. Whale meat and blubber were important food sources of protein and fat. Whale baleen was used for materials such as weaving combs, fishing lines, baskets, and even roofing material. Bones were fashioned into tools, figurines, and later used in corsets and hoop skirts.

In the modern world there was a dramatic increase in scale and efficiency driven by technological advancements and evolving market demands. Whale oil became a multi-purpose commodity. The transition from small-scale, traditional whaling to large-scale, industrial whaling led to a dramatic increase in catches and the near extinction of several whale species.

Whale oil was essential for lighting homes and lubricating machinery during the Industrial Revolution. The development of hydrogenation in the 20th century transformed whale oil into solid fat, fuelling its use in products like margarine and soap. The development of hydrogenation in the early 20th century made it possible to deodorize and solidify whale oil, increasing its versatility and demand. Glycerine, a byproduct of this process, was critical for producing explosives during wartime.
Whalebone, or baleen, derived from the mouths of certain whale species, was another important product. Its strength and flexibility made it ideal for corset stays, umbrella ribs, and brushes. However, the advent of plastics rendered baleen obsolete by the mid-20th century.
Ambergris, found in sperm whales, was prized for perfumes. This versatile use of whales drove their widespread exploitation, shaping economies but depleting populations.

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 margarine.

Scientists working for Lever Brothers developed methods to deodorise and harden whale oil, making it suitable for large-scale margarine production. Lever Brothers, through its dominance in the margarine market, became a major buyer of whale oil, driving demand and fuelling the expansion of the whaling industry.

Whale oil also became a critical ingredient in soap production as hygiene practices became more widespread. This demand fuelled the continued expansion of the whaling industry, even as concerns about overexploitation grew.

World War II brought renewed reliance on whales in Britain. As food shortages gripped the nation, the government promoted whale meat as an unrationed alternative to beef. Britain declared whale oil critical to national defence. Whale meat also became a source of protein during wartime rationing, especially for producing margarine to supplement restricted butter supplies. British expeditions to the Antarctic after 1946 focused on sourcing whale products to sustain the population during rationing. Despite the government’s efforts, whale meat—branded “Whacon” as a corned beef substitute—was unpopular due to its taste and odour, even with inventive recipes to encourage its use.

From 1904 South Georgia rapidly became a central location for industrial whaling. In total, over 175,250 whales were killed during 62 years of whaling operations at South Georgia, contributing to an estimated two million taken in Antarctic waters. Industrial whaling throughout the 20th century led to the collapse of many large baleen whale populations in the Southern Hemisphere.