Photostory #19: Annual Kill 600: Canadian Whaling Fleet

Photographers
Chris Lund
Maker
National Film Board Photos by Chris Lund
Release Date
July 27, 1955
Collection
CMCP fonds
Credit Line
Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives
Main Text
Once again the Pacific coast waters off British Columbia are echoing to the blast of harpoon warheads and the stentorian bellow of "There she blows!" Well-armed raiders of Canada's whaling fleet are today cruising the off-shore waters of Vancouver Island and Hectate Straits, in search of herds of tough sperm, Bottlenose and Humpback wales [sic]. A swirl of smoke clouds the harpoon gun mounted in bow of a "killer" boat, sending an explosive-pointed harpoon winging toward the 50-ton Humpback off the vessel's port bow. Charge is timed to explode deep in whale's vitals 3 seconds after impact.