Account of the Arctic Regions by W Scoresby, Vol.II.Frontispiece. Dangers of the Whale Fishery

Whaling could be a very dangerous business - as this frontispiece from 'Account of the Arctic Regions' (1820), by W. Scoresby, shows. Whale boats were frequently upset by the thrashing of the whale when it was harpooned. For this reason, early whalers preferred to hunt the 'Right whale', which was easier to catch. When the 'Right whale' became scarce, whalers had to hunt the larger whales, in particular the Sperm whale. Larger whales would pull boats after them, even if they dived deeply.

Object Details

ID: PAH3428
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Lizars, D; Lizars, William Home Waddel, James A. Constable & Co
Date made: 1820
Exhibition: North-West Passage
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 207 x 225 mm; Mount: 482 mm x 634 mm