Crew of whaling schooner ERA or A.T. GIFFORD processing baleen from bowhead whale, Hudson Bay, Canada, 1897-1912

glass negative

PHOTOGRAPHS - GLASS NEGATIVES
web coll comer01
Comer, George (Capt.)
Canada, Hudson Bay
1897-1912
glass
4 x 5 in.

Glass negative by Capt. George Comer, taken in Hudson Bay, ca. 1897-1912. Depicts crewmembers from whaling schooner ERA or A.T. GIFFORD processing baleen from a recently killed bowhead whale. Photo would have been taken in the spring, during the season of floe whaling. During this time of year the whaling schooner was still frozen into the harbor ice, so the whaleboats were hauled out to the floe edge [the edge of the land-fast ice] and launched in search of whales. The boats were also provided with covers and used for shelter, as seen in this image. Information from original envelope identifies this as # 99.

1963.1767.24