Changes

As early as 1611 the 50,000+ bowhead whales resident between the east coast of Greenland and the island of Spitzbergen were the subject of intensive commercial hunting effort by Dutch, German, and British whalers. By 1911 the bowheads were nearly extinct.  The discovery in 1848 of the rich stock of bowhead whales in the [[Bering Strait]] region sparked an oil rush that resulted in more than 2,500 annual whaling cruises to the area between 1848 and 1899.<ref> Robert C. Allen, and Ian Keay, "Bowhead Whales in the Eastern Arctic, 1611-1911: Population Reconstruction with Historical Whaling Records." ''Environment and History'' 2006 12(1): 89-113. Issn: 0967-3407 </ref>  

As early as 1611 the 50,000+ bowhead whales resident between the east coast of Greenland and the island of Spitzbergen were the subject of intensive commercial hunting effort by Dutch, German, and British whalers. By 1911 the bowheads were nearly extinct.  The discovery in 1848 of the rich stock of bowhead whales in the [[Bering Strait]] region sparked an oil rush that resulted in more than 2,500 annual whaling cruises to the area between 1848 and 1899.<ref> Robert C. Allen, and Ian Keay, "Bowhead Whales in the Eastern Arctic, 1611-1911: Population Reconstruction with Historical Whaling Records." ''Environment and History'' 2006 12(1): 89-113. Issn: 0967-3407 </ref>  

At first slow whales were caught by men hurling harpoons from small open boats. Early harpoon guns were unsuccessful until Norwegian Sven Foyn invented a new, improved version in 1863 that used a harpoon with a flexible joint between the head and shaft.  Norway invented many new techniques and disseminated them worldwide. Cannon-fired harpoons, strong cables, and steam winches were mounted on maneuverable, steam-powered catcher boats. They made possible the targeting of large and fast-swimming whale species that were taken to shore-based stations for processing.  Breach-loaded cannons were introduced in 1925; pistons were introduced in 1947 to reduce recoil. These highly efficient devices were too successful, for they reduced whale populations to the point where large-scale commercial whaling became unsustainable.  The shore stations on the island of South Georgia were at the center of the Antarctic whaling industry, from its beginnings in 1904 until the late 1920's when pelagic whaling increased. The activity on the island remained substantial until around 1960, when Norwegian-British Antarctic whaling came to an end.

At first slow whales were caught by men hurling harpoons from small open boats. Early harpoon guns were unsuccessful until Norwegian Sven Foyn invented a new, improved version in 1863 that used a harpoon with a flexible joint between the head and shaft.  Norway invented many new techniques and disseminated them worldwide. Cannon-fired harpoons, strong cables, and steam winches were mounted on maneuverable, steam-powered catcher boats. They made possible the targeting of large and fast-swimming whale species that were taken to shore-based stations for processing.  Breach-loaded cannons were introduced in 1925; pistons were introduced in 1947 to reduce recoil. These highly efficient devices were too successful, for they reduced whale populations to the point where large-scale commercial whaling became unsustainable.  The shore stations on the island of South Georgia were at the center of the Antarctic whaling industry, from its beginnings in 1904 until the late 1920s when pelagic whaling increased. The activity on the island remained substantial until around 1960, when Norwegian-British Antarctic whaling came to an end.

==History, U.S. and Canada==

==History, U.S. and Canada==

An early winter in the north Pacific in September 1871 forced the captains of an American whaling fleet in the Arctic to abandon their ships. With 32 vessels trapped in the ice and provisions insufficient to weather the nine-month winter, the captains ordered the abandonment of the ships and the three million dollars' worth of property carried on board but in the process saved the lives of over 1,200 people.<ref> Julie Baker, "The Great Whaleship Disaster of 1871." ''American History'' 2005 40(4): 52-58. Issn: 1076-8866 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]</ref>

An early winter in the north Pacific in September 1871 forced the captains of an American whaling fleet in the Arctic to abandon their ships. With 32 vessels trapped in the ice and provisions insufficient to weather the nine-month winter, the captains ordered the abandonment of the ships and the three million dollars' worth of property carried on board but in the process saved the lives of over 1,200 people.<ref> Julie Baker, "The Great Whaleship Disaster of 1871." ''American History'' 2005 40(4): 52-58. Issn: 1076-8866 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]</ref>

From the Civil War, when Confederate raiders targetted American whalers, through the early 20th century, the American whaling industry was overwhelmed by new, crippling economic competition, especially from kerosene, which was a superior fuel for lighting. New Bedford, once the fourth busiest port in the United States, gave up whaling.<ref> Dolin (2007)</ref>

From the Civil War, when Confederate raiders targeted American whalers, through the early 20th century, the American whaling industry was overwhelmed by new, crippling economic competition, especially from kerosene, which was a superior fuel for lighting. New Bedford, once the fourth busiest port in the United States, gave up whaling.<ref> Dolin (2007)</ref>

Whale hunting became an important industry in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] around 1900, thanks to the introduction of Norwegian equipment and techniques. The industry was highly cyclical, with well-defined catch peaks in 1903–05, 1925–30, 1945–51, and 1966–72, after which world-wide bans shut it down.<ref> Anthony B. Dickinson and Chesley W. Sanger, ''Twentieth-Century Shore-Station Whaling in Newfoundland and Labrador'' (2005).</ref>

Whale hunting became an important industry in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] around 1900, thanks to the introduction of Norwegian equipment and techniques. The industry was highly cyclical, with well-defined catch peaks in 1903–05, 1925–30, 1945–51, and 1966–72, after which world-wide bans shut it down.<ref> Anthony B. Dickinson and Chesley W. Sanger, ''Twentieth-Century Shore-Station Whaling in Newfoundland and Labrador'' (2005).</ref>

*[[Whale]]

*[[Whale]]

[[category:industry]]

[[Category:Industry]]