Norwegian Svend Foyn (1809-1894) is regarded as the father of modern whaling and is credited with the invention of the modern harpoon. Foyn's genius was to combine the use of fast steam-powered boats with deck-mounted cannons that could use both harpoons with strong lines attached to them and bomb lances to kill the target whale as quickly as possible. Foyn's purpose-built steam whale "catcher" Spes et Fides {Hope and Faith) first sailed in 1864 to northern Norway.
By 1868 Foyn had perfected the technique and "modern" whaling methods began to reap financial rewards. This success soon transformed Norway into the dominant force in whaling, an industry previously dominated by British, American, French, and German ships. During the nineteenth century, whale oil was much in demand for lighting and soap; whale meat, which has been eaten by some cultures since early times, became popular in the twentieth century.
Foyn's innovations were successful because they brought a whole new family of whales within the reach of the whalers—the Balaenopterinae, or rorquals. The rorquals, which include minke, sei, fin, and blue whales, were difficult to hunt because they are generally fast, large, and powerful, spend little time at the surface, and sink when harpooned. Another Foyn innovation was to inflate the carcass of the whale with air so that it floated and was easier to collect.
The success and efficiency of modern whaling was also in many ways its downfall. Populations of large mammals can be very fragile and whale populations soon crashed, eventually leading to a worldwide moratorium on whaling in 1982. Although Japan, Norway, and many other countries continue whaling on a small scale, there is strong international pressure to stop the practice altogether.
