National Geographic

READY TO RETURNThe Basques were the master whalers of their day, but ntheir ships weathered the voyages. Seamen’s court testimoninsurance claims tell of a costly end to the San Juan: drivethe rocks by violent winds before departure in 1565. But thesurvived, many barrels were recovered, and the Basques dnated the hunting grounds of the north into the next cent``````Whalers relievedthemselves overthe beakhead,with tarred ropeas toilet paper.``````Barrels were floated fromland to ships for loading.``````Flensingoperations``````FERNANDO G. BAPTISTAAND EVE CONANT, NGM STAFF, RILEY D. CHAMPINE; PATRICIA HEALY. SHIZUKA AOKI DAISY CHUNG, ,AND ELIJAH LEESOURCES: XABIER AGOTE AND MIKEL LEOZ AIZPURU, BIORENDER (BOWHEAD WHALE, INTERNAL ANATOMY, ALBAOLA BASQUE MARITIME).HERITAGE ASSOCIATIONMIKHAILA AND JANE MALCOLM-DAVIES; BRAD LOEWEN,, UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL THE TUDOR TAILOR; J. CRAIG GEORGE; NINYA,DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENTANDERSON CABOT CENTER FOR OCEAN LIFE, UTQI,NEW EAVIKNGLA, ALASKAND AQUARIUM; BRE; ROSALIND ROLLANDNNA,FRASIER, SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY, NOVA SCOTIA; CINDY GIBBONS, PARKS CANADARED BAY, CANADACCideriderBBarrels of ship’sarrels of ship’sbbiscuits, codiscuits, codBBeakheadeakhead1,ba1,000barrels ofrr (^00) els (^0) ofwwhale oilhale oil290 290 totonsnsCCARGOARGOWAWATERTERLEVELLEVELCCrew’srew’sqquartersuartersGGalleyalley1212443388$$10,000,000 10 , 000 , 000total value ototal value of cargof cargoin 2in 2018 dollars 018 dollars$$10,000 10 , 000pper barreler barrelOwOwners andners andccaptainaptainOutfittersanand masterOutfd masteittersrCCrewrewBBarrearrels per personls per personOffOfficersicersSeaSeamenmenHHarpoonersarpoonersAApprenticespprenticesBundles of baleen—in higher demandat the end of the 16th century—werestacked and bound.Fifteen to 20whales yieldedenough oil to fillthe cargo hold.PACKING THE WHALE OILBarrels were interlocked toprevent shifting and max-imize space. On a typicalreturn voyage, chalupasmay have been left behindand some men given extrawages to winter in Red Bayto allow more room for oil.The ship’s owners, outfitters, and crew each got a thirdof the cargo. The captain and master negotiated theirshare with the owners and outfitters, and the crew-members’ shares varied based on their position.1 6TH-CENTURY PROFIT SHARING