Du er her: Whalehunting

The great oil adventure in southerly waters

In 1905, Chr. Christensen sent the first whaling expedition from Sandefjord (Vestfold country) to the Antarctic. During the years 1905 to 1914, it was established 25 whaling expeditions in Sandefjord.
From 1864, some vessels joined whaling in the Arctic. Svend Fogne developed his grenade harpoon.
From Østfold country more and more crew gradually attended the big whale cookeries (pelagic whaling).

The whale oil got crucial significance for the industry in Fredrikstad, the shipbuilding yards in the town got many assignments to overhaul and build new whale boats. The whaling got many consequences, the whaler with his good economy also contributed with his purchasing power. He had often saved a great amount of money during the 7 mounths a hunting season lasted.

Geremany carried on pelagic whaling:

Deutsche Walfang-Gesellschaft Stormvogel GmbH., Bremen 1913. Erste Deutsche Walfang-Gesellschaft Stormvogel GmbH., Hamburg 1936. Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH. Hamburg 1936. Unitas Deutsche Walfang GmbH. Hamburg 1937/38, -38/39.

France had these whale stations (on land):

Port-Jeanne d'Arc - Iles Kerguelen from 1908-30
Port-Couvreux - Iles Kerguelen from 1912-31
Cap Lopez Jarama - French Congo from 1948-59

The British whale companies were many, one of them, Chr. Salvesen, Edinburgh - Lieth, carried on greatly within whaling: Southern Georgia (Shore station, Lieth Harbour) 1909-1964, a part of the time also with several whale cookeries.

Also Holland, Russia and Japan carries on whaling for several years.

Norwegians joined the German, French, English, Dutch, Russian and Japan expeditions, Norwegians had many years of experience, and they possessed the knowledge.
In the late fifties, the whaling was rather moderate, partly because the whale occurrences in the Antarctic had decreased and that the interest of protection had grown constantly stronger. The last season on the whale filed for Norway's part was 1967/68.