In the 1800s, whaling was primarily done for commercial purposes, particularly for producing whale oil, which was used for lighting and lubrication. Whales were hunted for their blubber, which was rendered down into oil, and for their bones, which were used in producing various goods, such as corsets and umbrella ribs.
Whaling was a major industry during this time, particularly in regions such as New England and Nantucket, where the local economies heavily depended on it. Whale hunting was also seen as a symbol of national pride and strength, particularly for countries such as the United States, which had a strong whaling industry.
However, the widespread and unregulated hunting of whales eventually led to a decline in whale populations, particularly for some species such as the sperm whale. As a result, many countries began to regulate whaling in the 20th century and eventually banned it altogether in order to protect whale populations and prevent their extinction.