Object Number: 1992.1.067
This crow’s nest was from Albatros a whale catcher built in Selvik, Norway in 1921. She was left in Grytviken, where she remains to this day. Whaling catchers were built for speed, they could move quickly through the water – reaching at least 14 knots. However, this meant that they were less stable than other boats and moved around jerkily in the water.
The crow’s nest was situated at the top of the mast and during daylight hours would have had a crew member positioned inside. This crew person had to have good eyesight to be able to spot whales from far away. They would call down to whoever was on the bow at the gun platform to alert when to shoot the whale. Now that the crow’s nest is in the museum, we can view the graffiti carved into the wood. Whoever was on lookout would carve words and pictures leaving their permanent mark on the barrel and giving them a way to pass the time between sightings!