<font color='#0000FF'>Thought I'd revamp this ole thread
I just came back from a weekend trip to one of the islands a couple of hours' drive from here. My uncle's got a farm there.
He told me of the 1908 whale massacre in his village. 200 whales were driven onto the beach and then killed by the less than 50 adult residents. The methods they used were certainly not "humane" by todays standards. A hay-fork would do it
The small and incredibly poor community thrived after this for many years. They had plenty of food all year round and made quite a lot on the market as well, selling meat, blubber and liver oil.
The bones and the skulls were used to make fences and were also used when making all kinds of appliances...
Whaling today might not be necessary... in those days it could mean life or death for many people up here. If you walk around the graveyards in the area you'll find the names of many children and young adults on those iron crosses.
Kyrre