The Basque culture is well known for whale hunting. Since immemorial times, the Basques have developed techniques of whaling, even reaching places that at that time were to be discovered.

Figure 10: Basque whalers hunting.

Whale hunting has been recorded since the 12th century in the Basque Country. Initially its famous oil (sain) boosted its hunting and supported much of the economy of the Cantabrian ports.

Figure 11: Basque coastal town council stamps.

Their intensive hunting drastically reduced their numbers. This forced the whaling fleet to sail further and further in search of prey. The recent archaeological discoveries of Newfoundland (Canada) demonstrate the presence of Basque sailors in the 15th century, even before the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. One of the pieces of evidence is the currently discovered San Juan whale hunting ship that sank in Terranova (Canada) in 1565. After the excavations and archaeological work, they put into practice five hundred years old shipbuilding techniques and began to build a replica.

Figure 12: Basque whalers hunting.

The disappearance of these cetaceans on the Cantabrian shores caused a crisis in the whaling sector. In the 18th century they were barely seen, capturing the last right whales in the late 19th and early 20th century. Only the application of new technologies that allowed the capture of other species, such as the abundant rorqual, made resurgence this activity in the twentieth century. Although this time the Basques did not retake it, in Galicia and the Strait of Gibraltar some companies emerged. This activity ended with the prohibition of their hunting and the consequent closure in 1986 of the last whaling companies in Galicia.

The right whale, also called the Basque whale, was a cetacean that used to approach the basque shores from November to March. They were also called franca (right) because they were the easiest to hunt, as they swam in groups, did so slowly and once dead they floated.

In the past, harpoon hunting was used, a technique invented by Basque fishermen. Everything began from the watchtowers, located in high areas of the cliffs and even on islands near the coast. They used to look at the sea in search of this animal. Once they could see its huge puffs, the population was warned.

Then the boats or txalupas were made to the sea in the direction that marked the watchtower. Each txalupa (the last ones identical to the current traineras), had approximately 8 people in it consisting between oarsmen, harpoon and helmsman.

Once they approached them, the harpoon was thrown with a stake (rope tied to the harpoon) so as not to lose contact with the cetacean. So they "surfed" following their slopes and climbs to the surface, until the whale submerged for the last time, already without forces, and finally emerged dead.

Figure 13: How did Basque whalers hunt explained by the National Geographic.

Then they towed the bodies until they ran them aground on a beach or in a port in the rock on a ramp. Once the tide was low, they took advantage to chop them up and take them to the factories.

The Basque whale had a large head with small eyes and a very curved jaw. It was usually black and with white spots on the belly and next to the beards. It had no dorsal fin, measured about 15 meters and weighed in adult state about 60 tons.

The most sought after was the fat or sain, very fluid, which was used for lighting but also for waterproofing clothes, making soaps and plasters. Hundreds of barrels of this product were extracted from each animal. It also provided hundreds of kilos of meat consumed fresh, smoked, marinated or in brine.

The beards (this species had 270) were used as piers, for their flexibility and resistance, in fans, corsetry (hence the name of the "whales" of the ancient corsets), umbrellas, watches and other machines.

The bones were used as vine supports, to obtain lime, and even in construction. Finally we have whale milk, very nutritious, 50% fat and 13% protein, much higher than cow's milk containing 4% and 3% respectively.

That is why Basque whalers, apart from any fishing activity, have given the Basque people and their culture a sense of solidarity and pride.

Nowadays, the right whale no longer inhabits these seas. It is found only on the North American coast and in no more than 400 specimens.

Know more about Basque and Northern people relationships here: