New Bedford
1867 - Docks and Whaling Ships |
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1867 was a good time for whaling, and New Bedford had the largest whaling fleet in the world.
This view is from the top of a building in New Bedford looking south with the entrance of the harbor and the Fairhaven coast in the distance.
Although there were hundreds of whaling ships that were sent from New Bedford to catch whales, their voyages were often as long as 2 - 3 years.
At that peak in the whaling industry in 1857, the 327 ships sent to that task would have found it difficult to fit in port at the same time. |
Fishing for cod, clams and lobster, etc. was also a busy endeavour. As you can see from the fish dealer's shack on the dock, fresh fish was available directly from the boat to the dealer. Early on lobster was not considered a delicacy but a poor man's seafood.
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