New Bedford, Massachusetts, whaling vessels
Whales and whaling pictures - 2

The golden age of American whaling lasted from around 1835 - 1860 when the most profitable whaling grounds were discovered. New Bedford was the largest and greatest of the whaling ports at the time sending ships out to wherever there were whales in the world. 

By the time of this picture, modern whaling methods with steam-powered catcher boats and explosive harpoons were taking over the old ways with sailing ships and open whaling boats that were rowed by the crews.

The barrels piled up in the foreground were for the purpose of being filled with whale oil at sea and brought back home. Even in the early "primitive" days whales were brought back to shore as semi-processed goods bearing no resemblance to the animal itself. In this way, voyages could last for years until the ships holds were filled.