The Annual Catch of Greenland (Bowhead) Whales in Waters North of Canada 1719-1915: A Preliminary Compilation

Abstract

The international composition of the whaling fleets that sought Balaena mysticetus north of Canada before 1915 has long been a deterrent to the compilation of a complete set of voyage and catch data. Using unpublished whaling logbooks and journals, manuscript annual summaries of Dutch and British whaling, and other sources, the author assembles data annually for each of the whaling grounds of Davis Strait, Hudson Bay, and the Beaufort Sea, which indicate that more than 29,000 whales were secured. Considering gaps in the coverage and the mortality of wounded escaped whales, the total kill during the whaling period may have exceeded 38,000. This reconstruction is considered preliminary; additional research could improve the completeness and accuracy of the information.