Steam Whaling in the Western Arctic

This book, published by Old Dartmouth in conjunction with the New Bedford Whaling Museum is a detailed and, at times, visually stunning look at American whaling from 1880 to 1910 in waters north of the Bering Strait. With a decline of the Bowhead Whale population, whalers were forced to hunt in colder and colder climates. Thus, these crews had to be prepared for ice-bound waters and used the steam as an auxiliary power source. (Whale ships that propelled themselves only by sail were largely obsolete by the late 19th century and couldn't be relied upon to work arctic climates.) Includes a chronological list of commercial wintering voyages, 1850-1910. Profusely illustrated with photographs, maps and drawings...