Many of the early explorers reported large numbers of whales in the Arctic waters when they returned to their home ports in Europe or North America. In the 1800's whale oil and baleen were valuable commodities. Whale oil was used for light and the baleen(bony plates) served the same purpose plastic does today.
Most whaling activity occurred north of Frobisher Bay in Cumberland Sound or in the Pond Inlet area from the early 1800's until the early 1900's. In the middle of the 19th century whalers began to overwinter at some locations in order to start the hunt early in the season. Whaling stations were established in Cumberland Sound and near Pond Inlet. Changes in Inuit settlement patterns began at this time. Instead of travelling inland to hunt in the summer Inuit began to stay near the coast to work with the whalers. The whalers provided the Inuit with trade goods such as metal pots, guns, tools and boats. A dependence on these trade goods began to develop and interfere with the traditional seasonal activities of the Inuit.
By the early part of the 20th century whale stocks had been greatly depleted and plastic and fossil fuel had replaced baleen and whale oil. Most whaling was done by the Inuit and oil was traded for goods when ships arrived in the sailing season. All commercial whaling was over by 1926.
