westerlies
344
westerlies climatic zone, ~climate.
western intensification strengthening of current at the west side of the large
oceanic gyres. ~boundary current.
wetlands areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water; either natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or
salt. They include areas of marine water where depth at low tide does not
exceed 6 m (according the definition given in the International Wetland
Convention). They support a characteristic flora and fauna, especially waterfowl and constitute a resource of great economic, cultural, scientific, and
recreational value.
whale fishery or rather whale hunting has a long history, and was originally
restricted to coastal areas during the seasonal passing of migrating whale
populations (in Europe: Norway, Portugal, and the north coasts of Spain).
The animals were spotted on the sea surface during emergence, followed
with small boats till they could be wounded and finally killed with handthrown harpoons, and hauled ashore. In the 17th century, especially the
Dutch whale fishery increased rapidly, till an extensive whaling fleet hunted
in the Northern Atlantic for the Greenland whale. Settlements and factories
were set up on, e.g., Spitsbergen, to cook oil from the blubber and meat.
Historical commanders' houses on the Frisian Islands, with their typical
whale bone gates (jaws), remind us of the period when the Greenland whale
was almost exterminated. When the whale fishery moved to northern
England, and from there to the North American coast (Nantucket), hunt
switched to the sperm whale, not only important for its oil and its ivory
teeth, but especially for the spermaceti: a wax-like material from the head, used
to make fine oils for, e.g., the cosmetics industry. Ambergris, a solid grayishblack substance from the lower intestine of the sperm whale, formed around
the beaks of squids eaten, and used by perfume makers, was also valuable.
Due to the decrease in the sperm whale population at the end of the 19th
century, whale fishery almost disappeared. With the invention of the harpoon gun, firing heavy explosive harpoons guiding steel cables, the hunt for
the fast blue whale and fin whale started in the Antarctic seas in summer.
Small and fast vessels (whale hunters) provided large factory ships with the
inflated carcasses, which were cut up and cooked in the enormous oil kettles, though in some cases meat was frozen for human consumption (Japan).
Due to the whale fishery, many species of (mainly) baleen whales have
become almost extinct. Since 1931 there has been a sequence of international treaties aimed at the protection of the whales through regulation of
the exploitation, and at present whale fisheries are closed worldwide except
for a very limited catch for scientific purposes.
344
westerlies climatic zone, ~climate.
western intensification strengthening of current at the west side of the large
oceanic gyres. ~boundary current.
wetlands areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water; either natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or
salt. They include areas of marine water where depth at low tide does not
exceed 6 m (according the definition given in the International Wetland
Convention). They support a characteristic flora and fauna, especially waterfowl and constitute a resource of great economic, cultural, scientific, and
recreational value.
whale fishery or rather whale hunting has a long history, and was originally
restricted to coastal areas during the seasonal passing of migrating whale
populations (in Europe: Norway, Portugal, and the north coasts of Spain).
The animals were spotted on the sea surface during emergence, followed
with small boats till they could be wounded and finally killed with handthrown harpoons, and hauled ashore. In the 17th century, especially the
Dutch whale fishery increased rapidly, till an extensive whaling fleet hunted
in the Northern Atlantic for the Greenland whale. Settlements and factories
were set up on, e.g., Spitsbergen, to cook oil from the blubber and meat.
Historical commanders' houses on the Frisian Islands, with their typical
whale bone gates (jaws), remind us of the period when the Greenland whale
was almost exterminated. When the whale fishery moved to northern
England, and from there to the North American coast (Nantucket), hunt
switched to the sperm whale, not only important for its oil and its ivory
teeth, but especially for the spermaceti: a wax-like material from the head, used
to make fine oils for, e.g., the cosmetics industry. Ambergris, a solid grayishblack substance from the lower intestine of the sperm whale, formed around
the beaks of squids eaten, and used by perfume makers, was also valuable.
Due to the decrease in the sperm whale population at the end of the 19th
century, whale fishery almost disappeared. With the invention of the harpoon gun, firing heavy explosive harpoons guiding steel cables, the hunt for
the fast blue whale and fin whale started in the Antarctic seas in summer.
Small and fast vessels (whale hunters) provided large factory ships with the
inflated carcasses, which were cut up and cooked in the enormous oil kettles, though in some cases meat was frozen for human consumption (Japan).
Due to the whale fishery, many species of (mainly) baleen whales have
become almost extinct. Since 1931 there has been a sequence of international treaties aimed at the protection of the whales through regulation of
the exploitation, and at present whale fisheries are closed worldwide except
for a very limited catch for scientific purposes.