The first attempt to catch whales by the English was in 1594 and whaling became the most important part of the fishing trade for Whitby.
Whaling was introduced to Whitby in 1752 and during its time there had many fluctuations to its success with only some years 1 or 2 ships sailing for Greenland or the Davis Straits. Others years there was as many as 20 ships whaling.
