The earliest method of whaling was to harpoon the whale from small boats. The harpoons were made of wood or bone, and they were thrown by hand. This method was dangerous and often unsuccessful, but it was the only way to hunt whales for many centuries.
Gun harpoons
In the 16th century, gun harpoons were invented. These harpoons were fired from a cannon, and they could be used to kill whales from a greater distance. This made whaling more efficient and less dangerous.
Whaling ships
In the 17th century, whaling ships were developed. These ships were equipped with all of the necessary tools and equipment for hunting whales. They also had a large crew of experienced whalers. Whaling ships allowed whalers to hunt whales in the open ocean, where the whales were more abundant.
Whaling industry
In the 18th century, the whaling industry became a major global enterprise. Whales were hunted in all of the world's oceans, and their products were used in a variety of ways. Whale oil was used to light lamps and as a lubricant. Whalebone was used to make corsets and other articles of clothing. Spermaceti wax was used to make candles and cosmetics.
The whaling industry peaked in the 19th century, but it began to decline in the 20th century. This was due to a number of factors, including the development of new technologies that made it possible to extract oil from petroleum and the rise of the environmental movement. Today, whaling is still practiced by some countries, but it is no longer the major industry that it once was.