1700-1770: Whaling in the Waters of New England
When whaling was first introduced, waters of New England were rich with whales. As time went on, however, whales were much harder to find. The first whaling expeditions were generally short, close to home, and very successful.
- Originally, typical whaling boundaries were confined to the New England area: about 20 miles south and east of Nantucket, and as far north as the Gulf of Maine. - Fin, Humpback, and Sperm Whales were the top choice for whalers. - The Fin Whale population was not severely hurt early in whaling; they were very elusive and hard to make money with. - Humpback Whales were taken at an alarming rate. They were bountiful in New England in 1700. They became a prime target for whalers in 1770 though, as barely 100 remained in New England waters. - Sperm Whales, the most profitable and highly seeked species, were extinct in New England waters by 1770. The spermaceti, a white substance in the animal's head, was the reason why sperm whales were hunted - The spermaceti was literally an oil well. - Sperm oil was the equivalent of modern crude oil. - They were very close to Nantucket, located only a few miles out on the Nantucket Shoals. - Frequently washed up on Nantucket beaches until whaling began. |