WHALERS IN GALAPAGOS

During the 19th century Spain's power in Latin America began to decline. The countries of South America began trading independently with England and France, and the heyday of the Pirate drew to a close. The industrial revolution had changed the world, and now rather than Spanish gold, seafarers were in search of oil. Oil came in the form of whale blubber. As the old Buccaneers returned to their home countries they told stories from their adventures. Including those of the "Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos" with an abundant supply of Sperm Whales.

By 1792, British whalers reached the Galapagos and began to hunt the mighty creatures. The upwelling in the islands made the Galapagos an excellent feeding ground for whales and the Islands of Isabela and Fernandina were a favorite calving place of whales.

Between the years of 1811 and 1844 it is thought some 700 whaling ships visited these islands. Whaling was a lucrative business, with very few regulations. Damage to the Galapagos environment by the whalers was unprecedented. The hunted the animals without any thought as to preserving their industry and brought the creatures near extinction.

Each whaling ship would collect between 500-600 tortoises to provide fresh meat on the cruise. It is estimated that whaling whip removed 15,000 tortoises from Floreana causing the extinction of that subspecies as well as those on Santa Fe and Rabida. In total it is thought that Whalers removed some 200,000 tortoises from the Galapagos. The whalers also created problems that would long survive them; they introduced a number of animals to the Galapagos including the black rat, cats, cattle, donkeys, goats and dogs.

Captain James Colnett was a British Whaler who spent some time in the islands. While there he made up to date charts and named some of the Islands.

He found Floreana to be a good resting place with a good anchorage, shelter, fresh water and tortoises for fresh meat. While there he put up a barrel for post home, and began the tradition of Post Barrel Bay. Whalers would often be at sea for 2 years at a time. They would drop letters in the post barrel, which would be picked up by a ships returning home and mailed.

Another famous whaler to visit the Galapagos was author Herman Melville who wrote about his visit to the islands in the story The Encantadas. By 1835 Whaling visits to the Galapagos ended, and by 1859 with the discovery of the first commercial scale petroleum (a less expensive form of oil) whaling quickly declined throughout the world.

GALAPAGOS HISTORY

Discovery of the Galapagos Islands
Whalers in Galapagos
Charles Darwin visits Galapagos
Early Colonists - Settlement of Galapagos

ECUADOR HISTORY

Pre Columbian History
Inca Empire Extends to Ecuador
Spanish Conquest of Ecuador
Royal Audience of Quito - Spanish Rule
Republic of Ecuador
Modern Ecuador History