The Whalers

For centuries whales were the mysterious giant mammals that roamed the great oceans of the earth. By the end of the 19th century they had been hunted to near-extinction. Today whales are no longer strange and unknown, and whaling as an occupation is nearly extinct. This amazing history traces whaling from the days when Inuits hunted bowhead whales to contemporary bans on whaling worldwide. You'll read about the Inuit's respect for the whale and their preparations for the hunt. You'll step aboard a 19th century whaling ship, experience a dangerous hunt for sperm whales, and find out what a Nantucket sleigh ride is. You'll learn why whales have been prized for their blubber, their bones--and the haunting beauty of their songs. Packed with colorful facts and bursting with charts, maps, photographs, and illustrations, this book addresses the bold voyages of the whalers and the controversy about whale hunting today.