History of AZOREAN Whaleboats
OPEN BOAT WHALING IN THE AZORES
THE HISTORY AND PRESENT METHODS
OF A RELIC INDUSTRY
By Robert Clarke, M.A.
(National Institute of Oceanogphy)
1954
1949 Robert Clarke visited the AÇORES to better describe the life and culture of the Azorean people related to Open boat Whaling for cachalots. Here is are his comments:
1. Open boat whaling for Sperm whales, conducted with nineteenth-century gear and methods, still survives in the Azores and Madeira. This report describes the history and existing practice of the industry in the Azores, and adds a note on Madeira. The writer visited the Azores in 1949, took part in the whale hunting, and examined sixteen of the twenty-one whaling stations.
2. The historical section describes first the course of pelagic whaling, mostly American, on the Azores or Western Islands ground between 1765 and 1921, and then the development of the island shore whaling industry which arose from the experience of the Azoreans in American whaleships. In the nineteenth century both southseamen and short-cruising plumpuddingers whaled round the Azores and called there (chiefly at Horta, Fayal) for recruits and provisions. The islanders, skilled from childhood in boatwork, made excellent whalemen. For a long period after 1780 Portugal employed some of these skilled nationals in unsuccessful efforts to establish a pelagic whale fishery. Azorean's were also employed in various shore stations overseas. Afloat and ashore the islanders were ubiquitous in the nineteenth-century whaling scene. Organized shore whaling in the Azores probably began in Fayal in 1832, but it was not successfully established until the 1850's. Thereafter it spread to the other islands. By the 1920's motor tow-boats were in general use for towing whaleboats and captured whales. At this time a guild of whaling owners was formed, the Grémio dos Armadores da Pesca da Baleia. In 1934 the first steam-powered factory was opened in San Miguel for processing whales, and after the Second World War three further modern stations were built in Fayal, Pico and Flores. These utilize blubber, meat and bone, but at all the other Azores stations only the blubber is saved. It is still removed by 'cutting in', and the oil extracted by 'trying out', using implements and installations of the old New England design, and scarcely changed from seventeenth-century whaling. The latest technical adjunct in the Azores is radio-telephone communication between cliff look-outs and motor tow-boats.
3· The technical section notes the uniqueness of the present survival of open boat whaling in the Azores and Madeira; and then describes exhaustively the boats, gear and methods of the survival, compares them throughout with those of American nineteenth-century whaling, and attempts to explain the very few differences. The present whaleboats are seven-man boats and are longer than the American boats which carried six men. Boat furnishings and gear have not changed; and nor has the technique of hunting except that in the Azores the harpooner both fastens and lances the whale, and does not change places with the boat-header for lancing. At try-works stations the whale is cut in either stranded on the beach or floating alongside a jetty. The method of cutting in alongside is the old whale ship practice brought ashore. Trying out, and the various try-works stations, are described. The report describes working up at Azores modern stations because this has evolved independently of Norwegian practice and shows interesting differences. Minor products of the Sperm whale are discussed. The intestines are always searched for ambergris which is occasionally found. Scrimshaw, learned from the whaleship days, is practised as a cottage industry. In Pico the blackskin of the whale is sometimes tanned into durable shoe-leather. Tendons and connective tissue fibres are widely used for whips or lashings. The life of the Azores whalemen has scarcely changed in 100 years. The whalemen are devout Catholics and once a year there is a festa dos baleieros when the whaleboats are blessed.
4· In Madeira Sperm whaling did not start until 1941. It is the same whaling as in the Azores whence it presumably came. There were in 1946 three whaleboat stations and two factories, one a try-works station and one a steam-powered plant.
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What is an Azorean Whaleboat
“ESPADARTE”
Azorean Whaling Boat
The “Espadarte” was one of the many whaling boats built in the Azores. The “whaling boat” is a type of small craft, rowed or sailed, very fast, light and maneuverable, which have been used in the whale hunting, from mother-ships (like the New England whalers) or from shore stations (like in the Azores until 1986).
Inspired in the north-american model, the Azorean whaling boat is now faced worldwide as one the most representative seacraft. Born as a result of the creative and inventive genius of the first major shipbuilders in Pico Island, the Azorean whaling boat is a mix of elegance, robustness, efficacy and singularity and, accordingly to many experts, “the most perfect seacraft to have ever sailed the oceans”. The first Azorean whaling boat was built at Lajes do Pico, by Master Francisco José Machado “The Experient”, by the end of 19th century.
As fast and maneuverable craft, the whaling boats were built in light woods, with a tapered profile, allowing a good hydrodynamic performance. They would accommodate 6 to 8 rowers and were piloted by a “master” controlling a “esparrela” helm. The “trancador”, use to stand in the bow, from where he would throw a long iron harpoon, with a barb, fitted in a heavy wood handle.
In the last few years, many old whaling boats have been fully restored and some new ones have been built. They are now used in sporting and leisure activities, in Summer sailing and rowing competitions.
The “Espadarte” was one of the many whaling boats built in the Azores. The “whaling boat” is a type of small craft, rowed or sailed, very fast, light and maneuverable, which have been used in the whale hunting, from mother-ships (like the New England whalers) or from shore stations (like in the Azores until 1986).
Inspired in the north-american model, the Azorean whaling boat is now faced worldwide as one the most representative seacraft. Born as a result of the creative and inventive genius of the first major shipbuilders in Pico Island, the Azorean whaling boat is a mix of elegance, robustness, efficacy and singularity and, accordingly to many experts, “the most perfect seacraft to have ever sailed the oceans”. The first Azorean whaling boat was built at Lajes do Pico, by Master Francisco José Machado “The Experient”, by the end of 19th century.
As fast and maneuverable craft, the whaling boats were built in light woods, with a tapered profile, allowing a good hydrodynamic performance. They would accommodate 6 to 8 rowers and were piloted by a “master” controlling a “esparrela” helm. The “trancador”, use to stand in the bow, from where he would throw a long iron harpoon, with a barb, fitted in a heavy wood handle.
In the last few years, many old whaling boats have been fully restored and some new ones have been built. They are now used in sporting and leisure activities, in Summer sailing and rowing competitions.
