The Whaling Industry
Whaling was once a thriving industry that was useful, if not needed for mankind. By cooking the blubber that came from whales caught, oil could be attained for use in lighting and for the production of other goods such as soap and more. Of course, this was in addition to the food that whales provided. Even the whale’s bones were put to use in a variety of products including building materials. The baleen whale was massively hunted during the 1600’s for its baleen plates that proved useful in creating everything from fashionable pieces to umbrella spokes, but the steel industry eventually became the primary source for these things. Sperm whale then became the most hunted whales by whalers in the industry. Sperm whales afforded the opportunity to create many products from candles to perfumes, and the oil that was processed from them were of a higher quality than other oils at the time. Great whaling ships filled with a diverse group of men continually set sail to capture these whales. The men who were fortunate enough to land working positions on these ships endured life threatening dangers on an ongoing basis, but typically brought home a nice salary. They seemed to be a different class of people and were often admired for what they did. However, once oil was being brought to the surface of land from oil rigs, the demand for the whale oil dropped, and products created from whale parts seen decreasing prices. 1946 seen the creation of the International Whaling Commission and 14 countries signed the International Convention for the Regulation of whaling. Activists and groups such as Greenpeace and other humanitarian groups started to take notice of what whaling was doing to the whale populations, and the horrid experiences that whales would sometimes endure throughout the hunting process. Today, there are strict guidelines in effect relating to whaling. However, there continues to be controversy, especially among the Japanese whaling industry. The Last Whale can help you get a firm grasp on the whaling industry as a whole, its history, and the roles that groups such as Greenpeace have played. Chris Pash has a flowing stream of knowledge, some of which comes from first hand experiences, regarding these topics, and is now sharing what he knows with the rest of us.
About the Author: Veronica Davis writes researched articles on an array of topics. You can visit her website at: http://www.vgal.info
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Print Article | Download PDF | 36 views | May 27 2008
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