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As I have pointed out many times: the (crude) oil industry saved the whales!

• Scaevolus 8y ago
  Oddly enough, sperm whaling peaked in the 1960s, following increased demand for heat-stable oils for automatic transmissions. It only stopped when the International Whaling Commission voluntarily enacted a moratorium in 1985.
  • jrumbut 8y ago
    The later whaling industry is depressing to read about. It was more grizzly than the Moby Dick era, with explosive tipped harpoons and faster boats capable of corralling whales into bays where they could be killed en masse. By the way, as a New Bedford resident, my favorite travel writing about NB came from the New York Times' "36 hours in..." series. The biggest challenge was what to do with the other 24 hours. It's all a little dismal.
    • emmelaich 8y ago
      It's grisly not grizzly but TBH I love your version too.
      • jrumbut 8y ago
        That's bearly a typo
• nikofeyn 8y ago
  not exactly.