European whaling

The coveted whales
Whalers from the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Germany, Denmark and other European nations were frequent visitors to the coasts of Greenland in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was at that time that bigger and stronger ships made it possible to sail to Greenland in the hunt for coveted whales such as the bowhead whale.



	Wood engraving - Gyldendal Publ.

Many different products could be taken from these large sea mammals: whale oil was primarily used as lamp fuel and as a lubricant, as well as in the clothing industry for tanning leather and rope-making and in the production of soap products, ship tar, varnish and paint.

In addition, the oil’s content of glycerine was used in the manufacture of cosmetics and explosives. From just one bowhead whale it was possible to extract 20-30 tonnes (44,000-66,000 lbs) of oil.

Bartering with Inuits
As the number of whales diminished, the whalers headed west. Here they met the Inuits, with whom they traded goods. The whalers traded clothes, textiles, clay and earthenware goods, brass kettles, tin goods, pearls and not least sewing needles and knives for blubber, teeth and skin. A shirt “cost" the exorbitant price of 1.5 barrels of blubber or two fox skins.

More and more Inuits were hired to work on the whaling ships. In this way they learnt about the new technologies and new ways of utilising the whales.