SeaClass | Massive Whaling Artifacts

Step aboard as SeaClass continues with an up-close look at some of the massive artifacts from the 19th-century whaling industry. In this episode, Michael P. Dyer, Curator of Maritime History, and Krystal Rose, Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs at Mystic Seaport Museum, walk us through the impressive scale, function, and craftsmanship of tools used during the processing phase of whaling voyages.

Learn about blubber hooks, spades, cast iron try pots, and other essential implements—what they were made of, how they were used, and what they reveal about the logistics and labor of a whaling expedition. You'll also discover how modern scientific techniques like peptide mass fingerprinting are helping uncover new details about items in our collection, and learn about the various roles needed to complete this monstrous task, including that of the cooper.

🎥 This episode carefully explores the maritime technology and infrastructure that supported a complex and demanding seafaring industry.

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DISCLAIMER: This video explores historical aspects of the whaling industry and includes period-specific descriptions and imagery that may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.

📌 Chapters – In This Video:

00:00 Introduction

00:50 All about blubber hooks

02:43 Spades and their role in the process

03:59 How many blubber hooks would be brought on a whaling journey?

04:35 How were these massive blubber hooks made?

08:05 Let’s take a look at the tools used for cutting-in

09:50 How have we used peptide mass fingerprinting on our collection?

11:34 Who would have made the cast iron try pots?

13:00 How long did it take to make the oil?

13:35 Did rain have an impact on the process?

15:45 When do you know the oil is ready?

19:30 What was the cooper’s role in the whaling process?

20:28 How many barrels of oil could a whaling ship hold?

21:30 Ways to extend the journey at sea

22:24 Merchant ships and their role in the process