The Whalers and Sealers

          From 1790 onwards, after Cook’s discovery of South Georgia, American sealers flocked to the island, the beginning of the American sealing industry there. Most sealers were American as Europe was locked in war. In 1801, the most profitable sealing voyage was made with a single taking of 57000 fur skins. Another 60000 fur skins are taken by other vessels in the same year. Many subAntarctic islands such as Snares Islands, Auckland Islands, Macquarie Islands are discovered by the sealers. All the fur colonies on the islands are exterminated within 10-20 years of their discoveries. American sealer John Davis, in February 1821, made what might have been the first landing on the mainland of Antarctica at Hughes Bay in Graham Land. He had been searching for seals in the South Shetlands, but sailed south after failing to find enough. He lands in ‘a large Bay, the Land high and covered entirely with snow’. His description of the bay in the ship’s log was highly accurate but the log was found very much later after his dearth and could not be confirmed.

The fashion industry demand for baleen (whalebone) for use in corsets kept the whaling industry alive. The northern waters were exhausted with the invention of new whaling techniques and the whalers turned their interests to the southern waters, reportedly having right whales. They came since the 1870s but found few right whales. However, they found seal colonies and the seal colonies were soon destroyed. In their journeys, they found new islands such as the Dundee Island and made some geographical founding. 1904 was the start of modern Antarctic whaling with the setting up of the first shore-based whaling station on South Georgia. Within 10 years, 20 stations and factory ships are operating around the island.

Whaling and sealing have destroyed much of Antarctica but yet it has made much contributions to the exploration of the continent. Now with treaties to preserve the natural environment of Antarctica, seals and whales are now protected by an international convention.

First landings

Heroic Age