by B. Stone

Created on: July 02, 2009   Last Updated: July 26, 2009

Whales are unquestionably magnificent. Their size is in itself profound, reminiscent of a time thousands of years before human beings ever walked the earth. They roam the oceans, to us as foreign creatures in a world totally unlike our own. The great whales are intelligent, social, and mysterious. Not only are they a wonder of the earth, but they are also a commercial good for the whaling industry. Man has been hunting whales for hundreds of years for food, and in the last two centuries, for whale oil, and bone.

There are many whales targeted by whalers, but some are more highly prized than others. Larger whales have historically been worth more, the blue whale being prized above all others, as well as the closest to extinction. There are only between 1,300 and 2,000 blue whales remaining. These whales reach lengths of twenty-four meters, and can weight as much as 136,000 kilograms. They are larger than any creature that has ever existed on the earth - including the dinosaurs. Because of their high value, they were over-hunted early. At the turn of the 20th century, when faster boats and harpoon guns were put into use, the blue whale population took a nose dive. By the 1960's they was on the brink of extinction.

As blue whale stocks dwindled, whalers focused on other great whale species. Fin whales, which are the second largest of the baleen whales (baleen whales do not have teeth, but a sieve to consume huge amounts of tiny krill for food) have also been intensely whaled. There are between 14,000 and 18,000 remaining in the North Pacific ocean. Like the blue whale, the fin whale is on the endangered species list. These amazing creatures can swim at speeds up to thirty-five miles per hour, and dive for as long as fifty minutes. Both Iceland and Japan continue to hunt fin whales.

Minke whales are the most commonly hunted whales today. Their worldwide population is unknown, but they are on the threatened species list. Minke whales are also baleen whales, but are much smaller than blue and fin whales, at around 6,800 kilograms. They are often curious, sometimes swimming along side boats. Iceland, Norway, and Japan all hunt minke whales.

Sei whales are also on the endangered species list. Their numbers are unknown. The sei whales have remarkable bodies - extremely thin and streamlined. They can travel up to fifty miles per hour. Sei whales were the most targeted whale after the blue and fin whales stocks were depleted in the 50's and

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