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Environmental factors affecting 17th–19th century whaling in the Greenland Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Chesley W. Sanger
Chesley W. Sanger
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada
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Abstract

Commercial pelagic whaling of the 17th–19th centuries in the Greenland Sea was heavily influenced by environmental factors. Much of the fishery took place along a constantly shifting ice-edge, variations in which stamped a unique character on each season's operation. Environmental conditions required expert interpretation, both to procure paying cargoes of whale oil and bone and to survive hazards posed by sea, wind and ice. Detailed knowledge of currents, temperatures and winds enhanced greatly the chance that a master would have a successful voyage.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 27 , Issue 161 , April 1991 , pp. 77 - 86
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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