California Shore Whaling
1854 to 1900
Thomas Leo Nichols
Introduction
Based on the historical record, I was able to determine that in excess of 4,000 whales, chiefly California Gray Whales and Humpback Whales, were killed by men operating from shore-based whaling stations located along the California coast during the latter half of the 19th Century. Other species taken included: Sulphur-bottom (Blue) Whales, Finback Whales, Pacific Right Whales and Sperm Whales, though in lesser numbers. This estimate includes almost 1,000 whales assumed as killed and lost due to bad weather, equipment failure or other reasons.
Shore stations studied include those located in Monterey, Crescent City, Santa Cruz, San Diego, Bolinas Bay, San Pedro, Half Moon Bay, Carmel (Point Lobos), Pigeon Point, San Simeon, Portuguese Bend, Port Hartford, Goleta, Point Sur, Cojo Viejo, Point Surbut and Baja California.
In shore whaling, these mammals were pursued in small boats, killed, towed to shore, and processed on the beach or on a special platform. At that time in history, shore whaling was considered an industry mainly producing whale oil extracted by boiling the blubber, which was used for lighting homes and streets, as well as a lubricant for machinery. Spermaceti from the Sperm Whale was valued as a precision lubricant. Many of the whalers were Portuguese from the Azores and Madeira Islands, brought to California as pelagic (deep sea) whaler crewman; later African Americans, Japanese, Chinese, as well as New Englanders, were involved in the fishery.
Prior to this thesis, no overall history or compendium of material relating to shore whaling along the California coast was available. This thesis provides a comprehensive history of California shore whaling for the period of 1854 to 1900, as well a bibliography containing nearly 600 references as an aid not only to those conducting research into shore whaling along the California coast in the 19th Century but also those pursuing studies into shore whaling activity along the California coast in the 20th Century. This examination of the historical record helps resolve erroneous and conflicting portions of that record.
A principal reason for the rise and prosperity of shore whaling along the California coast was the relatively low cost as compared to deep-sea whaling. This thesis delves into the specialized equipment and techniques required, as the California shore whalers could not easily come close to the tough Gray Whales in the surf and kelp beds. California shores whalers played a definite role in the decimation of the California Gray Whale population. By the end of the 19th Century, the stock of migrating whales was so depleted that shore whaling was no longer profitable with the available techniques and equipment.
Whales Taken by California Shore Whaling Stations
1854 to 1900
