I mean using harpoons and nets I suppose but does someone know how they did it???
Thanks
In the Basque region, where whaling occurred as early as the 11th century, they used a system of coastal watchtowers. The people who manned the towers were provided a salary, while all other whalers worked regular jobs and would only receive income based on the catch. These watchers would raise an alarm at the sight of a whale and the local men would push off in small row boats. They would approach the whale and use the regular harpoon and lancing method that was used well into the 19th century. They would then pull the carcass to shore and strip it of blubber before boiling that into oil. The industry was important, but whales were infrequent enough that it was not always a reliable source of income for Basque towns, thus why only the men in the watchtowers were salaried.
Later on, with larger, more rugged ships, the Basque began whaling in Labrador and Newfoundland, but that is well outside the period you're asking about.
We're whales hunted or feared? When did whale hunting become a norm?