

Interesting facts about Basque Whalers/Sailors that I learned from Christine Echeverria Bender during a presentation she gave at Jaialdi:

The first recorded transaction involving Basque sailors selling whale oil was in the year 670. The customer was a French abbey.

The contracts of Basque sailors stipulated that they would receive a specific amount, 2-3 liters, of sagardoa — Basque hard cider — each day. The vitamin C in cider helped prevent scurvy and the Basque sailors had less trouble with scurvy than those of other nations.

In addition, all of the people on the ship, including the cabin boys, were paid, at least in part, with oil. This model was unique in Europe. It provided a greater incentive for success.

In addition, all of the people on the ship, including the cabin boys, were paid, at least in part, with oil. The churches in the Basque Country taxed each ship returning to port, wanting the tongue of the whale and some percent of the oil. Many churches were financed by Basque whale oil.

Often, cabin boys were left behind on foreign shores, such as Newfoundland, to learn the local languages.

Some times, local populations fought each other for the right to trade with the Basques.

Images were found in this issue of Euskal Etxeak.

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