Whaling

Whaling has been a practice for thousands of years. About 4000 years ago whaling was practiced by Norwegians and most likely the Japanese as well. Whaling was also practiced by many Inuit communities in the artic. During that time the entire whale was used. Blubber was used as a source of vitamins and protein for people to eat. Bones where made into tools. Baleen was used for basket weaving, roofing material, and fishing line. As whaling became more and more popular and profitable, European communities began the practice and eventually America began the practice. Whaling in America was rather wasteful and excessive. There is an oil gland in the head of most whales that is called the melon. This melon contains oil that people sought after for lighting lamps. There were some other uses for the oil such as cosmetics, lubricants, and heating but mainly it was used to lamp oil.

                In the 1800’s whaling had reached its climax and people became more efficient in killing whales. Harpoon guns were much more efficient and steam ships were faster. Since humans were becoming more populated and more efficient at killing whales, their populations began to plummet. In the 1900’s people became less reliant on whale oil due to the new use of petroleum. Later in the 1900’s whales started to become recognized as endangered. Fortunately, in 1971 the U.S. outlawed whaling. Since then, some species of whales rebound. As time goes on, whaling has become more and more unpopular allowing some species of whales to continue to recuperate.