Hull and the Whaling Industry
#SUBHEADING# Hull Whalers #SUBHEADINGEND# Hull's whaling industry has been through a number of recessions and revivals in its colourful history. The first whaling ships left Hull in 1598 after the discovery of Greenland by Sir Hugh Willoughby. After a decline in the seventeenth century there was a successful revival in the mid eighteenth century mainly due to Sir Samuel Standidge who organised a small but successful fleet of whalers in the 1750's and 60's. It was not until the early nineteenth century however, that Hull's whaling industry really began to prosper. During the years 1815-1825 Hull had 2000 men employed in the trade and she could boast over 60 whaling vessels making it the largest fleet in Britain. #IMAGE# #SUBHEADING# Catching a Whale #SUBHEADINGEND# Whales were harpooned by a whaler in a small boat. This would not kill the whale but would allow the whaler to keep contact with the whale. Most whales would then attempt to flee by diving and then swimming away pulling the whaleboat with them. They would often swim for hours before tiring. The whalers would then use long lances or spears to stab between the whale's ribs and eventually kill it before towing it back to the main ship where it would be processed for its blubber and baleen. The favoured whale was the Greenland Right Whale so called because it was classed amongst whalers as the 'right' whale to hunt as it was slow, not too dangerous and floated when it was dead. Whalers in the South Seas and America hunted the Sperm whale which was much more dangerous, often fighting back and crushing whaleboats with their jaws or smashing into the boat. Although whaling was extremely profitable it was also a wasteful business and most of the carcass was abandoned overboard. A by-product of the whaling industry was the production of scrimshaw which became a popular past time with ordinary sailors and ships captains alike. #IMAGE# Most whaling took place between Spitsbergen and Greenland but as the number of whales depleted whalers were forced to enter more hostile areas such as the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay where ships often became trapped in ice. Whaling was a dangerous occupation. Many whalers lost their lives and nearly 800 ships were lost at sea between 1818 and 1869. #SUBHEADING# Decline of the Whalers #SUBHEADINGEND# Hull's whaling industry had begun to decline in the 1830's and by the mid 1850's there was only a handful of Hull whalers left. This decline was worsened by the successful introduction of steam powered whalers in Dundee and Peterhead. A few Hull ships were fitted with auxiliary steam but Hull's hopes for another revival were dashed with the Diana disaster in 1867 which led to the deaths of 13 men, including the ship's captain, after she was caught in ice in the Davis Strait. In 1869 the Diana was swept onto the Donna Nook where she broke up; a symbolic and poignant end the Hull's relationship with the whaling industry.
Truelove: From War to Whaler
The 'Truelove' was a barque obtained by the British during the American War of Independence. She was converted into a whaling ship and so began an illustrious and colourful history that saw her become the oldest surviving vessel of her class. Read about her successes with whaling, how she transported natives from Greenland, and her final visit back home to Philadelphia some 100 years after her 'birth' there.
Whaling Weapons
The methods used to catch whales did not vary much throughout the years but the weaponry evolved as whalers developed more efficient ways to kill their catch. Discover the different types of weapons used to catch whales from the simple hand harpoon to the explosive bomb lance.
The Diana
At one time a great number of whaling ships and their crew set sail from Hull but that was all to change. In 1866 the Diana set sail on a whaling expedition but its perilous journey proved the dangerous nature of the occupation and the struggles faced by sailors. She became Hull's last whaling ship, read on to find out why.
Whaling
The first whaling ships left the port of Hull in 1598, soon after the discovery of Greenland. The industry was thriving by the early nineteenth century after many recessions and revivals. During the years 1815-1825 Hull had 2000 men employed in the trade and she could boast over 60 whaling vessels making it the largest fleet in Britain. Using our important collections to illustrate, this section of our website explores Hull's whaling history from its peak to its decline in the mid to late nineteenth century.
Truelove: From War to Whaler
The 'Truelove' was a barque obtained by the British during the American War of Independence. She was converted into a whaling ship and so began an illustrious and colourful history that saw her become the oldest surviving vessel of her class. Read about her successes with whaling, how she transported natives from Greenland, and her final visit back home to Philadelphia some 100 years after her 'birth' there.
Locating Location
Today sailors use electrical equipment to find their position at sea but sailors of the past relied on simple navigation tecniques to travel the worlds oceans. Discover how they relied on the skies to map their location.
Telling the Time
Today sailors use electrical equipment to find their position at sea but sailors of the past relied on simple navigation tecniques to travel the worlds oceans. Discover they relied on the sun and stars to tell the time when travelling through diferent time zones.
Detecting Direction
Today sailors use electrical equipment to find their position at sea but sailors of the past relied on simple navigation tecniques to travel the worlds oceans. Find out how they used compasses to detect their direction.
What is scrimshaw?
Sailors could be at sea for months at a time when searching the arctic seas for a catch. Inevitably they had time on their hands and a wealth of teeth and bones from marine animals at their fingertips - the result was the unique and fascinating craft of scrimshaw. Read on to find out more.
Whaling Weapons
The methods used to catch whales did not vary much throughout the years but the weaponry evolved as whalers developed more efficient ways to kill their catch. Discover the different types of weapons used to catch whales from the simple hand harpoon to the explosive bomb lance.
