INDUS whaling operations in Patagonian waters: early years (1936-1939)

Abstract

In this paper we examine, from an anthropological and historical perspective, the early years (1936-1939) of Compañía Industrial S.A. (INDUS) as a whaling company, when most of its operations were conducted in Patagonian waters. These years are experimentation times, that afterwords lead to the establishment of Quintay (1943-1967) and Bajo Molle (1956-1965) whaling stations. Thus, this period is presented as a prelude to the whaling adventure of INDUS, a company that eventually to became the best known Chilean whaling industry and in quantitative terms, the most important of all national whaling history. Is the experimental aspect of these early years which makes it possible to find two stages, characterized by two different models of hunting and processing: between 1936 and 1938 with focus primarily on the coastal whaling from San Carlos de Corral and Huafo stations, while between 1938 and 1939 operate under the pelagic whaling model with the factory ship Indus B/F. The whaling operations and land stations in the south will be abandoned to concentrate on the construction of the Quintay whaling station.