In the early 20th century, whaling began to be conducted with modern techniques developed in Norway. For this purpose, whaling companies were formed in Valdivia, Chiloé and Punta Arenas.[1] In the 1960s, the whaling industry declined severely, and the processing factories in Bajo Molle and Quintay closed in 1965 and 1967, respectively.[1] The last processing factory, in Chome, closed in 1983.[1]
Whaling companies were:
- Compañía Chileno Noruega de Pesca[1]
- Sociedad Ballenera de Corral[1]
Whale hunting is richly portrayed by Francisco Coloane in his books.[1]
Adolf Amandus Andresen immigrated to Chile in 1894 where he prospered as a tugboat captain. He later returned to Norway to learn about the whaling industry in Finnmark. In 1903, Andresen, with a harpoon cannon mounted on one of his tugboats, shot his first whale in Chilean waters. He later managed the Sociedad Ballenera de Magallanes (the Magellan Whaling Company) with a shore station in Bahía Aguila.[3][4][5]
Andresen's 1907 catch of 79 right whales drew competition to the area, though the success went unmatched. In 1914, he set out from San Pedro with a factory ship, Sobraon, and two catchers to hunt humpbacks along the coast from Chile, Peru, Ecuador and on to Columbia, following the migrating animals. Andresen was the first person to raise the Chilean flag on Antarctica. However, his whaling business ultimately failed as a result of economic depression and the collapsing world market for whale oil.[3][4][5]
Encouraged by Andresen, another Norwegian whaler, Christen Christensen, sent the Vesterlide to San Pedro, captained by his own son, to hunt blue whales in the Bay of Corcovado. Christensen also financially backed another whaling company, Sociedad Ballenera y Pescadora, which was operated by H.C. Korsholm in Valdivia. Unfortunately, the returns were inadequate and both companies were liquidated by 1913.[3]