Joanes or the Basque Whaler

Whaling Industry has been criticized and is justly condemned nowadays, there is no need to exterminate these beautiful animals to create products that have cheaper and better alternatives.

But it is not right to condemn our whaling past, because the moral judgement of History depends on the vision of its own era. Basques have been known through out History as advanced mariners, industrious sea traders and pioneers of whale hunting in Europe. Bearing witness of that are the many seals of coastal villages along the Bay of Biscay, that carry the whale as the central figure.

From the VII to the XV centyries A.D. Basques pursued the whale intensively, during the winter months in their coastal waters. Later in this period they expanded their activities to the north, reachig Iceland in the year 1412, according to Joseph Dominique Garat Who lived between the years 1749-1833 and was senator of Napoleon Bonaparte. From Iceland an expansion to North America would have been a logical next step.