Shetland's Whalers Remember... - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0954156404 ISBN 13: 9780954156404

Publisher: Gilbert A Fraser, 2001

Antarctic whaling ceased in 1963 and with it went a way of life for many Shetlanders. Jobs at the whaling were many and varied depending on whether you were on the Island of South Georgia itself or a floating factory ship or a whalecatcher perhaps in sight of the coast of Antarctica at times. It was a long way to go for work but, for many, it was whaling or emigration and in that respect it was very important to the economy of Shetland. Some men overwintered on South Georgia and made as much money as they could in order to set up a business or perhaps buy a fishing boat or some other project. There were dangers in all aspects of the job and sadly some men never returned but, for most of those who did, whaling holds a special place in their memories. - When Salvesen pulled out of the whaling it was the end of an era for the men whose living it had been. They scattered far and wide and now some 40 years later they are becoming a rare breed. At a Whaler's Reunion in the Shetland village of Brae one night Gibbie Fraser realised just quite how rare and resolved to record some of the memories of these tough and resilient men. The result was a book called "Shetland's Whalers Remember.." a collection of anecdotes from some of the men who were whalers, some of them from before World War II and gives the reader a unique insight into what it was like to be a whaler in that far Southern Ocean amid icebergs, gales and fog all those years ago. -- The stories range from everyday work to the sadness of burial at sea, things going wrong and breakdowns to relaxation and friendships made that have stood the test of time. If you should happen to meet an old whaler, shake his hand, buy him a drink and let him tell you about his experiences in the South Ice. You might even get to hear some of the stories that could never be printed!!

• Publisher: Gilbert A Fraser
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0954156404
• ISBN 13: 9780954156404
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 238