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| Pictures of Antarctica |
Whaling Cards
1-5
Ogden's 1927 Cigarette
Cards as a summary of the whaling industry at the time
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These cigarette cards were issued by Ogden's Tobacco in Great Britain in 1927 and they're a great easy-to-digest illustrated guide to the whaling industry, particularly as they represent a time just before industrial whaling really started in earnest.
The descriptions are carefully written, concise and as detailed as the small space on the back of a cigarette card will allow. As I typed up the writing on the back of each card I developed a real respect for the writer of that text who had to get across as much accurate information on the subject in such a limited space while still fitting into the overall thread of the other cards.
The card captions are presented here exactly as on the back of each card. While reading, bear in mind that what you are reading was written in 1927 and so any references to "modern" or "recent" refers to that time.
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The Look Out - A. Greenland typeOn board a whaler the "Look out" is of first importance, and four men keep watch from the mast-head while daylight lasts. The "Look-out" is a simple affair. In the Arctic and Antarctic seas it is necessary to protect the watch from the severe cold and the Look-out is made in the form of a barrel, to which a handrail is fitted. Simple as this sounds it has proved very effective, and is the type used in all whalers of the Arctic and Antarctic seas. |
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The Look Out - B. Southern typeWhaling is by no means confined to the frozen seas of the Arctic and Antarctic, for the tropical and Southern seas are also hunted for whales. The "crow's nest" of a southern whaler consists merely of a slight platform resting on two cross trees at the head of the mainmast, and for the security of the observer two padded rings are fixed waist high. It is from this aerie that the magic cry comes floating down "Blo-o-o-w she blows!". At once all is excitement. |
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The HarpoonerThe old time "Harpooner" was a skilled man and his place in the boat was at the oar nearest the bow. As the boat approached the whale, the harpooner secured the oar, picked up the harpoon, and placed his leg in the socket of the cleat (called the knee brace) and made ready. At the command "Give it to him" he hurled the harpoon with all his might into the body of the whale. The second harpoon was also discharged, and if it failed to reach the whale, it had to be cast over-board to avoid entanglement. When the whale was made fast by the harpoons, the killing was accomplished by a lance. |
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The Whale BoatThe old time whaling boat which was some 27-35 feet long, was rowed by oars or fitted with a simple sprit sail. Care had to be taken to keep every article in its place, for the slightest mistake would have endangered the lives of all in the boat. A deep slot in the bow received the line and a logger head was fixed around which the line was turned. In the forward thwart was the knee brace or clumsy cleat to steady the left thigh of the harpooner. The rowlocks were greased and padded to render the rowing as silent as possible. |
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